lExpcrhticnts to dccompofc the Muriatic Acid. 33^ 



tained, of eleftrifying together pure muriatic acid and pure 

 carbonated hydrogenous gas, both perfectly free from water. 

 Now, from the experiments related in the firft feCtion, it 

 appears highly probable that a complete purification from 

 nioifture is produced, in both gafes, by the aftion of the 

 eleftric fluid ; all the water they before contained being thus 

 decompofed. In the following experiments, therefore, the 

 two gafes were fcparately eleftrilied before they were fub- 

 mitted to this procefs conjointly. 



Exper. 1^. To a portion of muriatic acid, diminiHied by 

 the a<3;ion of eleftricity from 144 to lar meafures, 27 mea- 

 fures of carbonated hydrogenous gas, expanded as far as 

 poflibie, were added, and 200 fliocks palfcd through the mix- 

 ture. The addition of permanent gas amounted to 14 mea- 

 fures ; 10 of which may be traced to the muriatic acid, and 

 were evolved by its feparate eleSrifation, The remaining 

 four xneafures, which .remain to be accounted for, are too 

 fmall a quantity to be afcribcd to the decompofition of the 

 acid. ■ 



Exper. 16. To a quantity of carbonated hydrogenous gas, 

 which liad received 40c fliocks, and occupied the fpace of 

 213 meafures, I added 332 of muriatic acid, throuah which 

 200 fliocks had previoufly been paflcd. The electrifation of 

 the mixture was hext continued till 800 difcharges had taken 

 place. On examining the r^ixture of gafes during this ope- 

 ration, no change whatever took place ; and, after its clofe^ 

 no more muriatic acid had difappeared than would havcbet'ii 

 deficient after the firll eledril'ation ; nor was there atiy fur- 

 ther produftion of permanent gas. 



Exper. 17. The, fame refult was obtained by cle6lrifyiiig 

 toEjether 280 meafures of carbonated hydroiicnous gas, pre- 

 vioufly expanded by 600 fliocks, and 114 of muriatic acid^ 

 after 400 fliocks. The additional dlfcharge, through this 

 mixture, of 1000 fliocks, did not evince the fnialleft progrcfs 

 towards the decompofition of the muriatic acid. 



Exper. 18. In the naturally moid flale of thefe gafes, it 

 follows, from the 14th experiment, that carbonic acid is 

 produced by electrifying them in conjunction. It appeared, 

 to me of fome importance to afcertain whether, after a pre- 

 vious 



