of Chlorine and Carbon. 35 
When raised in vapour over hot mercury, and detonated with 
excess of oxygen, a quantity of carbonic acid gas and chloride of 
mercury were produced. ‘There was no change in the volume 
of gas used; and lime water being passed into it absorbed the 
carbonic gas, became turbid, and left a residuum of pure oxy- 
gen. Acetic acid being then added, to dissolve the carbonate 
of lime, the solution was tested for chlorine, which was readily 
found init, When detonated with oxygen, the substance being 
in excess, there was expansion of volume, carbonic oxide, car- 
bonic acid, and chloride of mercury being formed. 
When phosphorus, iron, tin, &c. were heated to redness in its 
vapour over mercury, it was decomposed, chlorides of those sub- 
stances being formed, and charcoal deposited ; and M. Julin has 
shown that the same effect is produced by potassium. 
Three grains of this substance were passed in vapour over pure 
peroxide of copper, heated to redness in a green glass tube: a 
very small portion passed undecomposed, The gas received over 
mercury equalled 5:7 cubic inches; it was carbonic acid gas. 
A small part of the oxide of copper was reduced, and portions of 
a crystalline body appeared within the tube, which, on examina- 
tion, proved to be chloride of copper. Some of this was used in 
making experiments on its nature; but when that was ascer- 
tained, the remaining contents of the tube were dissolved in nitric 
acid, and precipitated by nitrate of silver: 6:1 grains of chloride 
of silver were obtained. 
Two grains were passed over pure quick lime, raised to a red 
heat in a green glass tube. The moment the vapour came in 
contact with the hot lime, ignition took place, and the earth 
berned as long as the vapour passed over it. When cold, the 
tube was examined, and much. charcoal found deposited at the 
spot where the ignition occurred. The contents of the tube 
were dissolved in nitric acid, and the filtered solution precipi- 
tated by nitrate of silver: 5°9 grains of chloride of silver were 
obtained. 
These results afford us sufficient data from which to deduce the 
nature and composition of this body. All the experiments of de- 
composition indicate it to contain chlorine and carbon, and those 
with oxygen and the metals sufficiently prove the absence of 
hydrogen and oxygen. With regard to the proportions of the 
elements, three grains of the substance gave 5-7 cubic inches of 
carbonic acid gas, therefore two grains will give 3-8 cubic inches. 
One hundred cubic inches of carbonic acid gas weigh 46°47 
grains, and contain 12°72 grains of carbon; and 3°8 cubic inches 
will therefore contain 0-483 grains of carbon. The two grains of | 
the substance decomposed by heated lime gave 5°9 grains of sl 
E2 ride 
