338 On two new Compounds 
changed. But if the chlorine is in excess, the fluid becomes of 
a yellow tint, and acid fumes are produced. This circumstance 
alone proves that chlorine can take hydrogen from the fluid; and, 
on examination, I found it was without the liberation of any car- 
bon or chlorine. 
That the action thus begun, might be carried to its utmost ex- 
tent, some of the pure fluid (chloric ether) was put into a retort 
with chlorine, and exposed to sunshine. At the first instant of 
contact between the chlorine and the fluid, the latter became 
yellow ; but when in the sun’s rays, a few moments sufficed to 
destroy the colour both of the fluid and the chlorine, heat being 
at the same time evolved. On opening the retort, there was no 
absorption, but it was found full of muriatic acid gas. This was 
expelled, and more chlorine introduced, and the whole again 
exposed to sun light: the colour again disappeared, and a few 
moist crystals were formed round the edge of the fluid. Chlorine 
being a third time introduced, and treated as before, it still re- 
moved more hydrogen ; aad now a sublimate of crystals lined 
the retort. Proceeding in this way until the chlorine exerted no 
further action, the fluid entirely disappeared, and the results were, 
the dry crystalline substance, and muriatic acid gas. 
A portion of olefiant gas was then mixed in a retort with eight 
or nine times its bulk of chlorine, and exposed to sun light. At 
first the fluid formed; but this instantly disappeared ; the retort 
became lined with crystals, and the colour of the chlorine very 
much diminished. 
On examining these crystals, I found they were the compound 
I was in search of; but before } give the proofs of their nature, I 
will describe the process by which this chloride of carbon can be 
obtained pure. : 
Perchloride of Carbon. 
A glass vessel was made in the form of an alembic head, but 
without the beak; the neck was considerably contracted, and 
had a brass cap with a stop-cock cemented on; at the top was 
a small aperture, into which a ground stopper fitted air tight. 
The capacity of the vessel was about 200 cubic inches. Being 
exhausted by the air-pump, it was nearly filled with chlorine ; 
and being then placed over olefiant gas, and as much as could 
enter having passed in, the stop-cocks were shut, and the whole 
left for a short time. When the fluid compound of chlorine and 
olefiant gas had formed and condensed on the sides of the vessel, 
it was again placed over olefiant gas, and, in consequence of the 
condensation of a large portion of the gases, a considerable quan- 
tity more entered. This was left, as before, to combine with 
part of the remaining chlorine, to ‘condense, and to form a So 
tla 
