of Chlorine and Carbon, Sc. 345 
My first object was to ascertain whether hydrogen existed in it 
or not. When phosphorus is heated in it, a small quantity of 
muriatic acid is generally formed; but doubt arises as to the 
cause of its production, from the circumstance that the phos- 
phorus, as already mentioned, may be the source of the hydrogen. 
When potassium is heated in the vapour of the substance, there 
is generally a small expansion of volume, and inflammable gas 
produced ; but it is very difficult to cleanse potassium both from 
naphtha and an adhering crust of moist potash; and either of 
these, though in extremely minute quantities, would give falla- 
cious results. 
A more unexceptionable experiment made with iron has been 
already described; and the inferences from it are against the 
presence of hydrogen in the compound. 
Some of the substance in vapour was electrized over mercury 
by having many hundred sparks passed through it. Calomel 
was formed, and carbon deposited. A very minute bubble of 
gas was produced, but it was much too small to interfere with 
the conclusions drawn respecting the binary nature of the com- 
pound; and was probably caused by air that had adhered to the 
sides of the tube when the mercury was poured in. 
The most perfect demonstration that the body contains no 
hydrogen, and indeed of its nature altogether, is obtained from 
the circumstances which attend its formation. When the fluid 
compound of chlorine and olefiant gas is acted on by chlorine 
and solar light in close vessels, although the whole of the chlo- 
rine disappears, yet there is no change of volume, its place being 
occupied by muriatic acid gas. Hence, as muriatic acid gas is 
known to consist of equal volumes of chlorine and hydrogen, 
combined without condensation, it is evident that half the chlo- 
rine introduced into the vessel has combined with the elements 
of the fluid, and liberated an equal volume of hydrogen; and as, 
when the chloride is perfectly formed, it condenses no muriatic 
acid gas, a method, apparently free from all fallacy, is thus af- 
forded of ascertaining its nature, 
I have made many experiments on given volumes of chlorine 
and olefiant gases. A clean dry retort was fitted with a cap and 
stop-cock. Its capacity was 25°25 cubic inches. Being ex- 
hausted by the air-pump, it was filled with nitrogen (24°25 cubic 
inches being required), and being again exhausted, 5 cubie 
inches of olefiant gas, and 10 cubic inches of chlorine, were in- 
troduced. It was then set aside for half an hour, that the fluid 
compound might form, and afterwards being placed again over 
a jar of chlorine, 19-25 cubic inches entered; so that the con- 
densation had been as nearly as possible 10 cubic inches, or 
twice the volume of the olefiant gas (barometer 29:1 inches). 
Vol. 59, No, 289, May 1822. X x It 
