of carhonic Oxide and Chlorine. 445 



tranquil, no explosion ever took place, and none of the me- 

 tals became isnited or iiiflanu-d. 



The action even of poiassiiun heated in the gas was not 

 violent Bin from iht great absorption of gas, and from 

 the precipitation of carbon indicated by the blackness pro- 

 duced, not only the new gas, but likewise the carbonic 

 oxide, appeared to be decomi)0!ied. 



The white oxide of zinc heated in the gas quickly decom- 

 posed it, ji»3t as readily indeed as the metal nself ; there was 

 the same formation of the butler of zinc 5 but instead o£ 

 carbonic oxide being produced, carbonic acid was formed 3 

 and, as usual, there was no change of vohune. 



The protoxide of antimony fused in the gas rapidly de- 

 composed it ; the butter of antimony and the infusible per- 

 oxide were formed ; there was no change of the volume 

 of the gas, and the residual gas was carbonic oxide. 



Sulphur and phosphorus sublimed in the gas, produced 

 no apparent change ; the volurne of the gas was unaltered, 

 and its characteristic smell was undiminished. 



IVJixed with hydrogen or oxygen snigly, the gas was not 

 inflamed by the electric spark, but mixed with both, in 

 proper proportion?, viz. iwo parts in volume of the foriDcr 

 and one of the latter to two parts of the gas, a violent ex- 

 plosion was produced, and the muriatic and carbonic acid 

 gasses were formed. 



The gas transferred to water was quickly decomposed, 

 the carbonic and muriatic acids were harmed,, as in the last 

 experiment, and the effect was the same even when light 

 was excluded. 



From the mode of the formation of the gas and the c<m- 

 densation that takes place at the time, from the results of 

 the decomposition of its ammoiiiacal salt, and from the 

 analysis ot the gas by metals and metalhc oxides, it appears 

 to be a compound of carbonic oxide a:.d chlorine condensed 

 into half the space which they occupied separately. 



And from its combining with ammonia, and forramg 

 with this alkali a neutral salt, and from its reddening Ut- 

 mus, it seems to be an acid h is similar to acids in other 

 respects ; in decf)m^)Osiiig the dry sub-carbonate of ammo- 

 nia, one part in vo'uii.e of it expelling two (arts of car- 

 bonic acid gas ; and in being itself not expelled from am- 

 monia by any of the acid gasses, or by acetic acid. In- 

 dependent of these circi.mMianccb, were power of satiTatioix 

 to be taken as the measuie of affinity, the attiarlion of this 

 gas for ammonia must be allowed 10 be gr-ater than that of 

 any other substance, for its s.ituraling power is greater; no 

 F t 3 acid 



