/ 

 ^Qg ON THE NATURB OF OXIMURIATIC ACIO. 



any powerfol affinity is at the same time exerted, having a 

 tendency to pr*^diice that acid : now swch an affinity isactu^ 

 ally exerted by the carbonic oxide, hence it is enabled to 

 operate with effect, an additional portion of oxiniuriatic 

 hcid is decomposed, innl by the communication of oxigen 

 portions of muriatic and carbonic acids are formed. This 

 is farther aide<l by the portion of water which must have 

 been containt^i in the portions of hidrogen, carbonic oxide, 

 and oximuriatic gasses, suffering these chan^esi'even though 

 they bad been previously rendjered as dry as possible. Of 

 Hself, this would not be sufficient to fuyoar the decomposi- 

 tion of the oxirauriatic acid, but added to the quantity 

 formed by the oxigenation of the hidron^en it may be adequate 

 to this effect, to the extent 1 have fitated. The operation of 

 this small q\iaiitity of water, remaining- in elastic fluids in 

 the driest state to which they can be brougkt, is very well 

 dhown in the results of the detonation of hidrogen and oxi~ 

 tnuriatic gasses, as related by Mr. H. Davy. Mr. J. Davy, 

 indeed tells us, that he has seen this experiment made a 

 number of times, " and though correctly made, there is no 

 condensation attending their union." But his brother in- 

 j forms us, that, when the gasses are mixed over water, in- 



troduced into an exhausted vessel, and fired by the electric 

 Spark, there isa condensation of from yV ^^ tV of the volume, 

 I have attempted, he continues, " to make the experiment 

 in a manner still more refined, by drying the oximuriatic 

 acid, and the hidrogen, by introducing them into vessels 

 containing muriate of lime, and by sufi'ering them to 

 combine at common tewperatures, but I have never been 

 able to avoid a sliglil condensation, though in proportion as 

 the gasses were free from oxigen or water, this condensation 

 diminished." This condensation must be owing to the 

 water remaining in the gases even after the action of muri~ 

 ate of lime; and it is this, no doubt, which partly operate? 

 in the experiments I have related, and favours the result. 

 Conversion of - Without any reference to this experiment I would farther 

 intoacidby observe, that the coi version cf carbonic oxide into carbonic 

 oximuriatic acid, when oximuriatic acid acts upon it with the admis" 

 fte water.^ ''^ »'on of a little water, is conclusive against Mr, Davy*? 

 hypothesis. The only mode in wliich the result can be ac- 

 counted 



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