278 balard's researches concerning the 



but it did not long retain either of these properties ; in a few seconds, 

 and without any action of the air towards the production of the phaeno- 

 raena, it became turbid, deposited chloride of silver, and the liquor 

 contained chlorate. 



Analogous phaenomena occur when the solutions of any salt of silver, 

 the nitrate, acetate, chlorate, &c. are treated with chlorine. Chlorate 

 of silver is formed, and the acids of these salts are set free. But the 

 filtered liquor, which in its limpid state decolorizes strongly, very soon 

 loses its limpidity and its decolorizing power ; a chloride is deposited, 

 and chlorate of silver remains in solution. 



The facts which 1 have now adduced show that, whether the deco- 

 lorizing combinations of chlorine with the alkalis are treated with 

 nitrate of silver, or chlorine is made to act upon oxide of silver, or 

 finally a salt of silver itself is acted upon by this agent, a soluble 

 combination of silver is obtained which is strongly decolorizing, and 

 which every circumstance leads to the supposition of being a chlorite; 

 but that this combination is almost ephemeral, and changes rapidly at 

 common temperatures into chlorate and chloride of silver. 



It would be in vain to attempt the conversion of this compound into 

 another of the same nature, and more stable, by treating it with an 

 alkaline substance ; for this conversion could not be efi'ected without 

 precipitating the oxide of silver, and this could not fail to re-act on the 

 chlorite in the manner which I have already indicated ; that is to say, 

 it would be changed into chloride and oxide of silver, and would disen- 

 gage oxygen gas. 



That which appeared to me to be the most efficacious manner of 

 retarding a decomposition, which in the heat of summer proceeds with 

 great rajDidity, and quickly destroys the chlorous acid, consists in pre- 

 cipitating the base of the chlorite of silver by chlorine itself. I have 

 already mentioned that chlorine, in acting upon any salt of silver what- 

 ever, decomposes its base ; and these two bodies are converted into 

 chloride of silver and chlorous acid. 



It is therefore evident that if this chlorine be made to act upon a 

 liquid which contains chlorite of silver, there can only be obtained, as 

 a last result, insoluble chloride of silver and chlorous acid in solution, 

 derived from a double origin. This is, in fact, what constantly hap- 

 pens, when in the execution of one of three operations which I have 

 mentioned a slight excess of chlorine is employed. 



The liquid which is obtained after the separation of chloride of silver 

 by filtration is not however pure chlorous acid. When a decolorizing 

 compound of chlorine is precipitated by nitrate of silver, it contains a 

 nitrate of the base employed, besides chlorous acid. If a salt of silver 

 has been decomposed by chlorine, it contains the acid which forms part 

 of these salts, mixed with chlorous acid. Lastly, in the case even in 

 which the operation is conducted with chlorine and oxide of silver dif- 



