Combinations of different Metals and Chlorine, ^c. 175 



directed by il in mv experiments, I have obtained some re- 

 sults which appear to nie to coincide witii it. 



Thus having been led to try the action of muriatic acid 

 on different combinations of the metals and chlorine, I have 

 found many of them capable of uniting with this acid, and 

 of formino compounds not dissimilar to some of those con- 

 sisting of acids and metallic oxides. 



Corrosive sublimate, sfannane, cuprane, and the com- 

 binations of chlorine with antimony, zinc, lead, and silver 

 are all soluble in different deffrees in muriatic acid. 



Corrosive sublimate, which -is but sparingly soluble in 

 water, and still more sparingly in the sulphuric and nitric 

 acids, is, I have ascertained, very readily soluble in muri- 

 atic acid. One cubic inch of the common strong acid 

 takes up about 150 urains of this substance, and when 

 gently heated, a quantity far more considerable, about 1000 

 grains. The compound thus formed solidifies on cooling 

 into a crystalline fibrous mass of a pearly and brilliant 

 lustre, [t is decomposed by heat, the acid being first ex- 

 pelled, and when exposed to the atmosphere, it effloresces 

 and appears to lose its acid, for afterwards analysed, it is 

 found to be pure corrosive sublimate. 



When I first tried the action of muriatic ncid on the 

 different combinations of chlorine already mentioned, I was 

 not aware that Klaproih had before observed the solubility 

 of horn silver in this acid, and Mr. Chenevix that of cu- 

 prane. Horn silver, cuprjne, and horn lead are precipi- 

 tated from muriatic acid, unaltered by water. Moth the 

 hot saturated solutions of the two last compounds deposit 

 crystals on cooling ; those from the solution of the former 

 are of an olive green colour and of a prismatic form, and 

 consist of cuprane and muriatic acid j those from the latter, 

 are small white brilliant plates. 



Finding the combinations of the metals and chlorine so 

 generally soluble in liquid muriatic acid, I expected that 

 some of them might ab^irb muriatic acid gas ; but none 

 that I have tried have po8>essed this property, not even the 

 liquor of Libavius. Indeed this is not singular; for water 

 IS necessary to the composiion of many saline bodies, 

 neutral carbonat of amnionia and nilrat of ammonia, for 

 instance, cannot be formed without the presence of water. 

 Neither is the precipitation of cuprane, horn silver, and 

 horn lead from muriatic acid bv ^vaier extraordinary; there 

 are several salts containing metallic oxides which are liable 

 to the same change, the oxides having less affinity for the 

 tcid, than water has. 



The 



