Oxymuriatic Gas and Oxygen, @c. 419 
combine with one of metal, and consequently, from the 
composition of the muriates, it will be easy to obtain the 
numbers representing the proportions in which these metals 
may be conceived to enter into other compounds *. 
5. General Conclusions and Observations, illustrated by 
Experiments. _ 
All the conclusions which I ventured to draw in my last 
communication to the Society, will, I trust, be found to be 
_ confirmed by the whole series of these new inquiries. 
Oxymuriatic gas combines with inflammable bodies, to 
form simple binary compounds; and in these cases, when it 
acts upon oxides, it either produces the expulsion of their 
oxygen, or causes it to enter into new combinations. 
if it be said that the oxygen arises from the decomposition 
of the oxymuriatic gas, and not from the oxides, it may be 
asked, why it is always the quantity contained in the oxide 
and why in some cases, as those of the peroxides of potas- 
sium and sodium, it bears no relation to the quantity of 
gas? 
If there existed any acid matter in oxymumiatic gas, com- 
bined with oxygen, it ought to be exhibited in the fluid 
compound of one proportion of phosphorus, and two of 
oxymuriatic gas; for this, on such an assumption, should 
consist of muriatic acid (on the old hypothesis, free from 
water) and phosphorous acid ; but this substance has no effect 
on litmus paper, and does not act under common circum- 
stances on fixed alkaline bases, such as dry lime or mag- 
nesia. Oxymuriatic gas, like oxygen, must be combined in 
large quantity with peculiar inflammable matter, to form acid 
matter. In its union with hydrogen, it instantly reddens 
the driest litmus paper, though a gaseous body. Contrary 
to acids, it expels oxygen from prot-oxides, and combines 
with peroxides, 
When potassium is burnt in oxymuriatic gas, a dry com- 
pound is obtained. Jf potassium combined with oxygen is 
employed, the whole of the oxygen is expelled, and the same 
compound formed.° It is contrary to sound logic to say, 
that this exact quantity of oxygen is given off from a body 
not known to be compound, when we are certain of its ex- 
istenee in another; and all the cases are parallel, 
* From the experiments detailed in the note in the opposite page, it would 
appear that the number representing the proportion in which mercury com- 
bines must be about 200, ‘That of silver, as would appear from the results, 
a ANT, about 100. The numbers of other metals may be learnt from the 
ata in the same page, but from what has been stated, these data cannot be 
considered as very correct. 
Dde2 An 
