INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY—BAEKELAND. 235 
for this acid, as such, can be foynd only to a limited extent. It is 
true that hydrochloric acid could be used in much larger quantities for 
many purposes where sulphuric acid is now used, but it has, against 
sulphuric acid, a great freight disadvantage. In its commercially 
available condition it is an aqueous solution, containing only about 
one-third of real acid, so that the transportation of 1 ton of acid 
practically involves the extra cost of freight of about 2 tons of water. 
Furthermore, the transportation of hydrochloric acid in anything 
but glass carboys involves very difficult problems in itself, so that 
the market for hydrochloric acid remains always within a relatively 
small zone from its point of production. However, for a while at 
least, an outlet for this hydrochloric acid was found by converting 
it into a dry material which can easily be transported, namely, 
chloride of lime or bleaching powder. 
The amount of bleaching powder consumed in the world prac- 
tically dictated the limited extent to which the Leblanc process could 
be profitably worked in competition with the Solvay process. But 
even this outlet has been blocked during these later years by the 
advent of the electrolytic alkali processes, which have sprung up 
successfully in several countries, and which give as a cheap by- 
product chlorine, which is directly converted into chloride of lime. 
To-day any process which involves the production of large quan- 
tities of hydrochloric acid, beyond what the market can absorb as 
such, or as derivatives thereof, becomes a positive detriment, and 
foretells failure of the process. Even if we could afford to lose all 
the acid, the disposal of large quantities thereof conflicts immediately 
with laws and ordinances relative to the pollution of the atmosphere 
or streams, or the rights of neighbors, and occasions expensive 
damage suits. 
Whatever is said about hydrochloric acid applies to some extent 
to chlorine, produced in the electrolytic manufacture of caustic soda. 
Here again the development of the latter industry is limited, primarily 
by the amount of chlorine which the market, as such, or as chlorinated 
products, can absorb. 
At any rate, chlorine can be produced so much cheaper by electro- 
lytic caustic alkali processes than formerly, and in the meantime 
the market price of chloride of lime has already been cut about in 
half. 
In as far as the rather young electrolytic alkali industry has taken 
a considerable development in the United States, let us examine it 
somewhat nearer. 
At present, the world’s production of chloride of lime approx- 
imates about half a million tons. 
We used to import all our chloride of lime from Europe until 
about 15 years ago, when the first successful electrolytic alkali works 
