1813.] Chlorine, and its Compounds. ijf 



measure 9*641375 cubic inches only. And if we suppose that 

 none of the acid condensed in consequence of the loss of its 

 water entered into union with the potash, and that the acid thus 

 employed carried all its water with it, we have only in addition 

 to this quantity either 5 983736 grs. measuring 10-0062 inches, 

 or 5*6459 grs. measuring 9-42625 inches, making in all a con- 

 densation of either 19*643675 or 19-OG7625 inches. But it is 

 obviously more natural to suppose that the acid deprived of its 

 elasticity from the loss of its water afterwards entered into union 

 with the potash: in which case the results of the experiment 

 should have been 13 - 76396 grs. of muriate of potash, an evolu- 

 tion of 7-8229" inches of hydrogen, a condensation of 1*32815.2 

 gr. of an-hydrous muriatic acid, and not less than 11*9977 cubic 

 inches of residual muriatic acid gas. 



It will be seen by a reference to page 290 of Mr. Dalton's 

 work, that he infers by calculation that during the oxydation of 

 a quantity of potassium sufficient when in the state of potash to 

 unite with 22 inches of muriatic acid gas, were water the source 

 of the oxygen, nearly 16 inches of hydrogen would be evolved ; 

 while if the acid gas suffered decompo?ition 8 inches would 

 appear. This, however, is not perfectly accurate : for the quan- 

 tity of real acid contained in 22 inches of the gas is capable of 

 combining with 23-0872 grs. of potash, and, for the formation 

 of this, 2-8175 grs. of oxygen are requisite. Now this quantity 

 of oxygen is, in the state of water, combined with not less than 

 18*04 14 inches of hydrogen. On the other hand, if Mr. Dalton's 

 view of the nature and constitution of muriatic acid be correct, 

 and if this body were the source of the oxygen, there should 

 have been an evolution of 6-01 18 inches only, from the oxyda- 

 tion of 20-2697 g rs - of potassium. If, however, the 22 inches 

 of muriatic acid gas were the sole source of the oxygen, 16*917 

 grs. only of potassium would have been required ; and the evo 

 lution of hydrogen could not have exceeded 4*3739 inches. As, 

 however, the quantity of oxygen required by 8 grs. of potassium 

 is almost exactly sufficient to form water with 8 cubic inches of 

 hydrogen, and as it is certain that 9*29152 grs. of potash cannot 

 form muriate of potash by union with the real acid of 22 cubic 

 inches of muriatic acid gas, is it not better to argue upon a 

 foundation in some degree known, and from phenomena con- 

 sistent among themselves, than to build speculations on a part of 

 an experiment, which is almost demonstrably impossible ? 



In the only other experiment of this sort detailed by Sir H. 

 Davy, 5 grs. of potassium took nearly 14 inches of muriatic 

 mid gas, .,nd gave about 5 inches of hydrogen : . r » grs. of 

 potassium may unite with K<)72 of a grain of oxygen*; which in 

 the itate "l water hold in union * 13505 of a grain, or 5*116 



V01.IL N°I. B 



