BETWEEN MURIATIC ACID AND CHLORINE. 3538 
atomic protoxide of iron, hitherto unknown? This question 
must be answered by future researches. 
I tried to determine the proportion of muriatic acid in the 
above muriate of iron, by nitrate of silver. The quantity on 
which I operated was, however, too small to permit me, to 
place much confidence in the result. But one circumstance 
arrested my attention. A portion of revived silver was found 
at the bottom of the glass capsule, on pouring off the prep 
tated muriate. 
On the general principle of research, above stated, the pro- 
duct of water or liquid, will be proportionate to the quantity 
of muriatic acid gas, condensed into muriate of iron. Hence, 
to obtain large results, it is proper to have a considerable por- 
tion of iron laminze, placed just at, or a little beyond, the limit 
of ignition. 
_ From the whole of the preceding experiments, we may legi- 
timately conclude, that muriatic acid gas hygrometrically dry, 
contains much combined water. And since that gas results 
from the union of chlorine and hydrogen in equal volumes, 
each likewise hygrometrically dry, the above water must be 
formed in consequence of the hydrogen finding oxygen in the 
chlorine, for its saturation. Chlorine is therefore Sara 
tic, or Oxygenated muriatic acid. 
My experimental examination of iodine, has further led me 
to conclude, that this curious substance is not entitled to rank 
in the same class. with chlorine, but with sulphur. The details. 
will form the subject of a separate memoir. 
Vou. VIII, P. II. Yy XVIII. 
