ii6 Experiments to decompofe the Muriatic Acid. 



gas and muriatic acid, after eleftrifatidri in this inftrument; 

 oxygenated mMfiatic acid being produced in both cafes. 



The above fails prove that the combination of oxygeri 

 tvith muriatic acid, in thefe experinicnts, is not occafioned 

 by a pre-difpofing affinity in the mercury to combine with 

 oxygenated muriatic acid ; but that the eieftric fluid ferves 

 actually as an intermedium in combining the muriatic acid 

 with oxygen. 



From the relation of thefe experiments it appears, that not 

 the fmalleft progrefs had been made by them towards the 

 decompofiiion of the muriatic acid. I rcfolved, therefore, to 

 attempt its analyfis, in a fimilar manner, with the aid of 

 combuftible gafes. 



Section II. 



JBffcBs of elcStrlfylng the JMririatic Acid Gas with Injlam- 

 mahlc SubJIances. 



In a memoir read bieforc the Royal Society, and infertcd 

 in their Tranra(!^ions for 1797, I have fliown that, when 

 eletSlrical (hocks are pafled repeatedly through a confined 

 portion of carbonated hydrogenous gas, the water held irt 

 folution by the gas is decompofed bv the carbon, whicli, 

 forms a conftituent part of it ; that carbonic acid is formed j 

 and an addition made, of hydrogenous gas. Hence the bulk 

 of the carbonated hydrogen gas is confiderably enlarged by 

 this procefs, which ftiows, by it5 refults, that the affinity of 

 carbon for oxygen is rendered much more powerflil and effi- 

 cient by the eleftric fluid. I have fince found that other 

 ox3'genated fubftanccs are decompofed by eleftrifying them 

 ■with carbonated hydrogen gas. NitroUs gas, for example^ 

 is fpeedily deftroycd by this procefs, and carbonic acid and 

 azotic gafes are obtained. 



Every attempt to decompofe the muriatic acid muft be 

 founded on the prefLHTiption that it is an oxygenated fub- 

 ftance; and thofe bodies promife to be the mod fuccefsful 

 agents, that poflefs a ftrong affinity for oxygen. Now, of 

 all known bodies, charcoal moft ftrongly attrsiSts oxygen; 

 and I have, therefore, repeatedly attempted the deftruAioa 

 of this acid, by pafling ii over red-hot charcoal. But, in a 



feries 



