4 M Thenard’s Observations on {J ar- 
colourless liquid, almost destitute of smell, and powerfully red- 
dens tincture of turnsole. When raised to the boiling tempera- 
ture, it is decomposed, and converted into oxygen and muriatic 
acid. When saturated with barytes, potash, or ammonia, it is 
decomposed still more readily, allowing a quantity of oxygen to 
escape. It dissolves zinc without effervescence. It does not act 
upon gold at the ordinary temperature, at least in the space of a 
few minutes. Its action on the oxide of silver is curious. These 
two bodies occasion as wai an effervescence as if an acid were 
poured upon acarbonate. The reason is, that water and a chlo- 
tide being formed by the reaction of the oxide and the muriatic 
acid on each other, the oxygen united with the acid is suddenly 
disengaged and assumes the gaseous form.* 
The property which oxygenized muriatic acid has of being 
decomposed by oxide of silver, so that the oxygen becomes 
free, will probably put it in our power to form several ether oxy- 
genized acids with facility. Thus with oxygenized muriatic acid 
and a solution of fluate of silver, we may expect to obtain oxyge- 
nized fluoric acid. 
In oxygenized muriatic acid, the hydrogen and oxygen are in 
the proportions requisite for forming water. 
Such are the principal results which I have hitherto observed. 
They make us acquainted with a new class of bodies, which will, 
perhaps, be numerous in species. We must find them out, 
ascertain their properties, examine the different circumstances in 
which they are susceptible of being formed, we must see whether 
other bodies as well as acids be not capable of combining with 
oxygen. Thus a laborious series of experiments is chalked out, 
the parts of which I propose to present to the Academy in pro- 
portion as I ascertain them. . 
Since these observations were read, I have satisfied myself. 
that by the process pointed out for obtaining oxygenized fluoric 
acid, not only this acid may be obtained, but likewise oxygenized 
sulphuric acid. Indeed it will be easy to obtain in that way all 
the acids susceptible of beg oxygenized. 
Oxygenized fluoric acid does not let go its oxygen at a boiling 
temperature ; but oxygenized sulphuric acid lets it go easily. 
I have ascertained likewise that oxygenized nitric and muriatic 
acids may be combined with new doses of oxygen. Probably 
the other acids are in the same case. To obtain these new com- 
pounds, it is sufficient to treat the oxygenized acid with the 
deutoxide of barium, as above described ; for example, to super- 
oxygenize oxygenized muriatic acid, this acid is saturated with 
deutoxide of barium. The barytes is precipitated by sulphuric 
* The discovery of this new compound seems to set the controversy respecting 
the nature of chlorine at rest. Prof, Berzelius, and those other gentlemen who 
maintain the old doctrine, will now be able to satisfy themselves that chlorine and. 
oxygenized muriatic acid are two distinct substances,—T. 
