1826.] Scientific Notices-^Chemtstry^ 311 



Article VIL 



SCIENTIFIC NOTICES. 



Chemistry. 

 L Muride, a supposed new elementary/ Substance. 



On the 3d of July last, M. Berard read to the Parisian Aca- 

 demy of Sciences a memoir by M. Ballart, of Montpellier, in 

 which he announces the discovery of a new elementary sub- 

 stance, which he denominates muride. The memoir was re- 

 ferred for examination to M. M. Vauquelin, Thenard, and Gay- 

 Lussac ; but the following is a sketch of its contents. 



In its uncombined state, muride is a reddish liquid, with an 

 odour resembhng that of chlorine ; its specific gravity is 2*966, it 

 is volatile, and boils at 117°Fahr. At a pressure of 76 cent.itgivea 

 a red vapour resembling nitrous gas. It remains fluid at 14° Fah. ; 

 is soluble in water, alcohol, and ether ; is not altered by a red 

 heat, or by the electric current, extinguishes burning bodies 

 which are immersed in its vapour, decolorizes indigo, and com- 

 bines with most of the simple bodies, forming compounds analo- 

 gous to those produced by chlorine and iodine under the same 

 circumstances. It combines with nascent hydrogen, losing its 

 colour, and acquiring the properties of an acid, termed by 

 M. Ballart hydromuridic acid. This acid is readily decomposed 

 by chlorine, which unites with the hydrogen, and liberates the 

 muride in the form of red vapours. It is not decomposed by 

 iodine, but on the contrary decomposes hydriodic gas, and sepa- 

 rates the iodine. Hydromuridic acid is not decomposed by 

 oxygen. Potassium, zinc, iron, tin, and other metals, decomposei 

 it, disengaging the hydrogen, and uniting with the muride ; the 

 resulting compounds are in every respect analogous to chlorides. 

 The muridure of potassium has the cubic form, like the iodide 

 and the chloride of this metal. 



M. Ballart mentions several processes for obtaining this sub- 

 stance. One of them is as follows : He passes a certain quantity 

 of chlorine into the mother-water of salt-pans, which decomposes 

 the combined hydromuridic acid it contains, the muride in solution 

 giving the fluid a red colour. This solution is then agitated with 

 ether, which dissolves the muride, and by the addition of caustic 

 potash, a muridure of potassium is formed, which is easily sepa- 

 rated in the solid form : this combination is decomposed in the 

 sequel by means of sulphuric acid and oxide of manganese. 

 The operation is performed in a glass retort, to which is adapted 

 a horizontal tube containing chloride of calcium, and to this 

 tube is adapted a smaller one immersed in a receiver properly 

 cooled. The muride is to be kept in a ground-stoppered bottle, 

 with a small quantity of common sulphuric acid, which, being 

 lighter than the muride, floats upon it, and prevents its evapo-- 

 ration. — (Journal de Pharmicie.) 



