48 Mr. Faraday on new Compounds [Jan. 



When passed through a red hot tube, it gradually deposits 

 carbon, yielding carburetted hydrogen gas. 



Chlorine introduced to the substance in a retort exerted but 

 little action until placed in sun-light, when dense fumes were 

 formed, without the evolution of much heat; and ultimately 

 much muriatic acid was produced, and two other substances, 

 one a solid crystalline body, the other a dense thick fluid. It 

 was found by further examination that neither of these were 

 soluble in water ; that both were soluble in alcohol — the liquid 

 readily, the solid with more difficulty. Both of them appeared 

 to be triple compounds of chlorine, carbon, and hydrogen; 

 but I reserve the consideration of these, and of other similar 

 compounds, to another opportunity. 



Iodine appears to exert no action upon the substance in seve- 

 ral days in sun-light ; it dissolves in the Uquid in small quantity, 

 forming a crimson solution. 



Potassium heated in the liquid did not lose its brilliancy, or 

 exert any action upon it, at a temperature of 186°. 



Solution of alkalis, or their carbonates, had no action upon it. 



Nitric acid acted slowly upon the substance and became red, 

 the fluid remaining colourless. When cooled to 32°, the sub- 

 stance became solid and of a fine red colour, which disappeared 

 upon fusion. The odour of the substance with the acid was 

 exceedingly like that of almonds, and it is probable that hydro- 

 cyanic acid was formed. When washed with water, it appeared 

 to have undergone little or no change. 



Sulphuric acid added to it over mercury exerted a moderate 

 action upon it, little or no heat was evolved, no blackening took 

 place, no sulphurous acid was formed; but the acid became of 

 a light yellow colour, and a portion of a clear colourless fluid 

 floated, which appeared to be a product of the action. When 

 separated, it was found to be bright and clear, not afl^ected by 

 water or more sulphuric acid, solidifying at about 34°, and being 

 then white, crystalline, and dendritical. The substance was 

 lighter than water, soluble in alcohol, the solution being preci- 

 pitated by a small quantity of water, but becoming clear by 

 great excess.* 



• The action of sulphuric aciil on this and the other compounds to be described, is 

 very remarkable. It is frequently accompanied with heat ; and large quantities of those 

 bodies which have elasticity enough to exist as vapours when alone at common pressures, 

 are absorbed. No sulphurous acid is produced ; nor when the acid is diluted, docs any 

 separation of the gas, vapour, or substance, take place, except of a small portion of a 

 peculiar product resulting from the action of the acid on the substances, and dissolved by 

 it. The acid combines directly with carbon and hydrogen : and I find when united 

 with bases forms a peculiar class of salts, somewhat resembling the sulphovinates, but 

 still different from them. I find also that sulphuric acid will condense and combine 

 with olefiant gas, no carbon being separated, or sulphurous or carbonic acid being 

 formed ; and this absorption has in the course of 1 8 days amounted to 84*7 volumes of 

 olefiant gas to 1 volume of sulphuric acid. The acid produced combines with bases, &c. 



