184 On some new analytical Researches 



riatic acid, phosphorus, and oxveen. In distilling corrosive 

 sublimate with phosphoru?, I had a similar result, and I 

 obtained the suhstante in niueh lartrer quantities, than by 

 the distillation of phosphorus with calonul. 



As oxvmuriatic acid is shghilv soluble in water, there 

 was reason to suppose, reciprocallv that water must be 

 slightly soluble in this gas ; I endeavoured therefore to pro- 

 cure drv muriatic acid, by absorbing the oxygen from 

 oxvmuriatic acid gas by substances, which when oxy- 

 senaled produce compounds possessing a strong affinity for 

 water. Phosphorus, it is well known, burns in oxynui- 

 riatic acid gas ; though the results of this combustion, I 

 believe, have never been minutely examined. With the 

 hopes of procuring murialic acid gas, free from moisture, I 

 made the experiment. I introduced phosphorus into a re- 

 ceiver having a stop-cock, which had been exhausted, and 

 admitted oxvmuriatic acid gas. As soon as the retort was 

 full, the phosphorus entered into combustion, throwing 

 forth pale white flames. A white sublimate collected in the 

 top of the retort, and a fluid as limpid as water, trickled 

 down the sides of the neck. The gas seemed to be entirely 

 absorbed, for when the stop-cock was opened, a fresh 

 quantity of oxyrauriatic acid, nearly as much as would have 

 filled the retort, entered. 



The same phaenomenon of Inflammation again took place, 

 with similar results. Oxyniuriatic acid gas was admitted till 

 the whole of the phosphorus was consumed. 



Minute experiments proved, that no gaseous muriatic 

 acid had been evolved in this operation, and the muriatic 

 acid was consequently to be looked for either in the while 

 sublimate; or in the fluid which had formed in the neck of 

 the retort. 



The sublimate was in large portions, the fluid only in the 

 quantity of a few drops. I collected bv different processes, 

 sufficient of both for examination. 



The sublimate emitted fumes of muriatic acid when ex- 

 posed to air. When brought in contact with water, it 

 evolved muriatic acid gas, and left phosphoric acid, and 

 murialic acid, dissolved in the water. It was a non-con- 

 ductor of eleclricitv, and did not burn when heated; but 

 sublimed u'hen its temperature was about that of boiling 

 water, leaving not the slightest residuum. I am inclined 

 to regard it as a comoination of pliosphoric and muriatic 

 acid in their dry states. 



The fluid was of a pale greenish yellow tint, and very 

 limpid ; when exposed to air, it rapidly disappeared, emit- 



linjr 



