in different chemical Processes on Fluor Spar. 417 
dance of oxygen, or those containing abundance of chlo- 
rine. 
I distilled the fluates of lead and mercury with phos- 
phorus and sulphur, with the hope of obtaining compounds 
of the fluoric principle with phosphorus and sulphur. In 
all experiments of this kind, a decomposition took place, 
and the glass tubes employed were violently acted upon, 
and sulphurets and phosphurets were formed. When I 
used tubes lined with sulphur the decomposition was less 
perfect ; but minute quantities of limpid fluid condensed in 
a part of the tube cooled by ice, both in the cases when 
sulphur and when phosphorus were used; it had the ap- 
pearance of hydro-fluoric acid, and speedily dissipated itself 
in white fumes. Whether they were that substance which 
had obtained its hydrogen from these inflammable bodies, 
or compounds of sulphur and phosphorus with the fluoric 
principle, I have not ascertained; but the first opinion seems 
most probable. 
When IJ heated fluate of lead and finely powdered char- 
coal strongly in the air, the lead became revived, and white 
fumes were produced. J thought it probable, that in this 
case a compound of fluorine and charcoal was formed; but 
on trying the experiment in a close vessel of platina, no 
change took place; and it evidently depended upon the 
presence of hydrogen in the vapour of the atmosphere, or 
in the flame of the spirit lamp, by which the experiment was 
rade, and I found muriate of silver decomposed, and silver 
produced under the same circumstances. 
From ibe general tenor of the results that I have stated, 
it appears reasonable to conclude that there exists in the 
fluoric compounds a peculiar substance, possessed of strong 
attractions for metallic bodies and hydrogen, and which 
combined with certain inflammable bodies forms peculiar 
acids, and which, in consequence of its strong affinities 
and high decomposing agencies, it will be very difficult to 
examine in a pure form; and for the sake of avoiding cir- 
cumlocuticn, it may be denominated fluorine, a name sug- 
gested to me by M. Ampere. 
_ From experiments that | have made on the composition 
of the fluoric combinations, and which I shall soon have 
the honour of communicating to the Society, it appears 
that the number representing the definite proportion in 
which fluorine combines, is less than half the number re- 
presenting that in which chlorine combines; and hydrates 
in becoming fluates lose weight; so that on the generally 
received idea of the existence of a peculiar acid in the 
©» Vol. 42. No. 188. Dec, 1813. Dd: fluates, 
