1821.] of Chlorine and Carbon, fyc. 105 



is left unchanged. 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 libe- 

 ration of any carbon or chlorine. 



That the action thus began, might be carried to its utmost 

 extent, 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 removed more hydrogen ; and now a sublimate of 

 crystals lined the retort. Proceeding in this way until the 

 chlorine exerted no farther 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 I 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 

 quantity more entered. This was left, as before, to combine 

 with part of the remaining chlorine, to condense, and to form a 

 partial vacuum ; which was again filled with olefiant gas, and 

 the process repeated until all the chlorine had united to form the 



