THE BLEACHING COMPOUNDS OF CHLORINE. 273 



of their preparation. The results of this double decomposition would 

 be, the oxidation of the metal of the chloride, which in this new state 

 would saturate, as the base of the chlorite, the acid employed ; and a 

 disengagement of gaseous chlorine would take place from a double 

 source : from the chlorous acid and the metallic chloride. 



Although this explanation may appear less natural than the other, it 

 is nevertheless supported by analogous chemical facts. If, for example, 

 a mixture of phosphuret of calcium and phosphate of lime be made red 

 hot, phosphorus is evolved, and the residue is lime nearly pure ; this for 

 a long time favoured the supposition that this mixture was a phosphuret 

 of oxide, whilst the contrary is now demonstrated. 



The phaenomena of oxidizement produced by the action of decolori- 

 zing compounds do not clear up the doubts which exist as to their true 

 nature, for these phaenomena may be explained by both hypotheses. Un- 

 doubtedly some are more readily so by one and some by the other, but 

 there is no one to which they may not both be strictly applied. 



We are, however, indebted to M. Liebig for some experiments 

 which seem to render 'the hypothesis of the chlorites preferable. This 

 able chemist observed that chlorine could not only expel carbonic acid 

 from the bicarbonates, but also acetic acid, which is stronger, so as to 

 form decolorizing compounds. Now it is difficult to conceive that a 

 simple body can expel an acid from combination with a base; it is more 

 natural to suppose that it is another acid, which overcomes the affinity 

 even of the acetic acid; and this circumstance seems to justify the suppo- 

 sition of the existence of chlorous acid. It may seem astonishing, at first 

 sight, that an acid so weak as chlorous acid, and which may be expelled 

 from its combinations by carbonic acid, should, in its turn, expel acetic 

 acid from its combinations. But the science 'presents us with facts 

 equally singular, and which are well ascertained. Acetic acid itself, 

 for example, decomposes the carbonates, and yet carbonic acid acting 

 upon acetate of lead precipitates carbonate from it, and sets acetic acid 

 free, which may be distilled. 



Bei-zelius first undertook this subject, and among other interesting 

 experiments, we are indebted to him for one, which, if it has not 

 entirely settled the question, has at least thrown great light upon it. 

 On passing a current of chlorine into a solution of carbonate of potash, 

 saturated with chloride of potassium, this learned chemist observed, 

 that from the first moment of the disengagement, the liquor became 

 strongly decolorizing, and much pure chloride of potassium was depo- 

 sited. The first action of the chlorine on the metallic oxide seemed to 

 produce chloride of potassium. Then, as no chlorate was as yet depo- 

 sited, and as in this experiment no deutoxide of hydrogen is formed, 

 nor is any oxygen disengaged, it must be admitted that what is expelled 

 from the metal by the chlorine has acted upon a portion of this elemen- 

 lary body, and formed with it some oxygenated compound, which is not 



