1 ae 
{> —* 
4 
; 
| 
| 
; 
: 
ON MURIATIC ACID Gas, &c. - 29): 
the experiment. There is a production of water in every form 
of it; and there exists no just argument whence it can be in- 
ferred, that the quantity is less than what ought to be ob- 
tained. On the opposite doctrine, none whatever should ap- 
pear. 
To effect the more perfect separation of the water from the 
muriate of ammonia, I had performed the additional experi- 
ment of passing the salt formed from the combination of the 
two gases, in vapour through ignited charcoal, on the principle 
that by the interposition of the charcoal, the transmission of 
the vapour would be impeded, and it would be exposed toa 
more extensive surface, at which a high temperature would 
operate, while some effect might also be obtained from the af- 
finities exerted by the carbonaceous matter. To remove any 
ambiguity from the effect of the charcoal, it was previously ex- 
posed in an iron tube toa very intense heat, until all produc- 
tion of elastic fluid had ceased ; and removed, while still warm, 
into a tube of Wedgwood’s porcelain, containing the muriate 
of ammonia, which was then placed across a furnace, so as to 
be raised to a red heat. As soon as the vapour of the salt 
passed through the ignited charcoal, gas was disengaged, which 
was conveyed by a curved glass tube adapted to the porcelain 
one, and received in a jar ovez quicksilver. Moisture was at 
the same time pretty copiously deposited, condensing both in 
the glass-tube in globules, and being brought in vapour with 
the gas which it rendered opaque, and condensing on the sur- 
face of the quicksilver within the jars. The elastic fluid con- 
sisted of carburetted hydrogen, and carbenic acid, products 
evidently of the decomposition by the ignited charcoal of a 
portion of the liberated water. In this experiment, then, the 
result was still more satisfactory than in the other. That no 
ambiguity arose from any effect of the charcoal in affording 
Oo 2 water, 
