•JlO ON HYPEROXIMURIATE OF POTASH. 



ation of which webave accounted foijcomes into contact tvu|i 

 the solution oF oxide o( potassium, w€ must spppose, tha,t 

 part of it from superior affinity displaces part of the -oxigen, 

 and coriihines with the potassium. Bat how fehall we in 

 the hrst place account^for this partial action ? If a superiw 

 affinity exist between part of tlie oxi muriatic acid and pari 

 f>f the polat>6'.um, how is it that it doeis not subsist between 

 the whole ? How is it, that the wljole oxigen of the potash 

 is not set free, and the combination consist of muriate of 

 potash only ? 



But what becomes of that portion of oxio^en, which is thus 

 liberated ? Does it unite with the remainder of the oxin)u- 

 riaticacid? and so united, do they combine with tiie re- 

 maining oxide of potassium ? Or is it attracted by the 

 already saturated Qxlde, and that too in the face of a su-^ 

 perior affinity ? — This is establishing a new law of affinity 

 at once. We assert, that part of the oximiiriatic acid will 

 not combine with the oxide of potassium, but overcomes a 

 powerful* affinity to form a separate combination ; and, that 

 another part not only does unite with the same oxide, but 

 solidifies along with it that portion of oxigen, with which 

 the first part was incapable of uniting. To anomalies, or, 

 more correctly speaking, to contradictions like these, it 

 yrould be difficult to bring the mind to assent, even if there 

 were no other means of accounting for the changes in the 

 process. 

 Difficulties on Let us now examine the second supposition, under which 

 the 2d. this new theory may be attempted to be applied, viz. that 



muriate of potash is a compound of muriatic acid and pot- 

 ash. We must now suppose, that, when the oximuriatic 

 acid first enters the solution of potash, part of it abs- 

 tracts from the water of the solution a portion of hidrogen ; 

 and, being thus changed to muriatic acid, combines with 

 the potash to form muriate of potash. The oxigen thus 

 liberated unites to the other portion of the oximuriatic acid, 

 and forms with the remainder of the potash tlie hyperoxi* 

 muriate. 



Now, setting aside the anomaly of a simple sqbstancC: 

 |:)eing capable of uniting either with oxigen or hidrogen to 



f Mr. Davy stales it to be an intense affinity. See as abo^e, p. 330, 



form 



