428 On the Action of the Acids 



when a))p!ied to the tongue, it leaves for a long while a very dis- 

 agreeable sensation. 



It occuiied to nie that the gas procured from the hyperoxy- 

 muriate by the action oi hquid muriatic acid, might be a mere 

 mixture of this gas and chlorine ; and two in volume of this 

 gas and three in volume of chlorine, would produce by explosion 

 the same products as euchlorine. Tiie only fact which 1 ain ac- 

 quainted with, opposed to the idea, is the circumstance of Dutch 

 foil not burning spontaneously in the gas from muriatic acid, 

 which might be expected if it contained as much as 3-5ths of 

 imcombined chlorine ; though the force of this argument is 

 suspended, till it is supported Ijy an experiment showing that 

 Dutch foil inflames iu a mixture of two of the deep-ycllovv gas, 

 and three of chlorine. I have not yet been able to procure at 

 Rome, metallic foil fitted for this experiment. 



I have ascertained that the gas from hyper-oxymuriate and 

 muriatic acid, though it acts uiuch njore slowly upon water than 

 the other ga';, yet in tlie end gives it the same tint and proper- 

 ties ; and when much of it is exposed to a small quantity of 

 water, it always leaves a residuum of clilorine, so that if it be 

 not a mixture, but a compoundj the new gas is formed from 

 it by the action of water. 



The action of hydro-nitric acid un tlie hyper-oxymuriate, 

 affords the same gas as that produced by the action of sulphuric 

 acid, and a n-such larger quantity of nitric acid may be safely 

 made to act on the salt ; but as the gas nuist be procured by so- 

 lution of the salt, it is always mixed with about l-5th of oxygen. 



From the solid mixture made with sulphuric acid, I have ob- 

 tained a gas containing only ~-^ of oxygen ; the fifth proportion 

 obtained in the experiments with nitric acid, being evolved du- 

 ring the time the mixtures were made. 



The saturated solution of the gas affords white fumes, si- 

 milar to tlio.'^e produced at the moment the hydro-sulphuric 

 mixture is made, from whicii it is probable, that these fumes 

 consist of a hydrate of the gas. 



The saturated solution, wlien mixed vrith solution of fixed al- 

 kalies, or of ammonia, does not immediately lose its colour, nor 

 neutralise the alkalies ; but after some time the effect is pro- 

 duced, and hyper-oxymuriates are obtained (probably mixed 

 with a minute quantity of muriates). The solution exposed to 

 air, or suffered to remain iu close vessels, becomes soon colour- 

 less ; and I am inclined to believe that this depends upon a de- 

 composition of water, for some of it exposed to a small quantity 

 of air rather increased its volume. 



I shall not propose to give any name to this substance, till 

 it is determined wheth«?r euchlorine is a mixture or a definite 



compound. 



