1813.] Chlorine, and its Compounds. 125 



that modification of affinity which has been named disposing or 

 resulting. According to the new theory, on the other hand, 

 this want of action admits of no explanation or reference to any 

 general class of phenomena ; but must be ranked as an ultimate 

 and inexplicable fact. 



In some instances, as in that of hydrogen and nitrogen, the 

 nascent state favours combination. In others, as corundum 

 with acids, the absence of cohesion is necessary. In a third 

 class, as nitrogen and oxygen, a previous partial union effects a 

 combination, otherwise nearly impracticable. A case such as 

 the present requires the most scrupulous attention to all these 

 circumstances, as far as is possible. The last of these has been 

 made the subject of experiment by Mr. Murray,* and by Mr. 

 J. Davy,f who, though he first asserted that dried carbonic oxide 

 was not acted on by oxymuriatic gas,- states in a subsequent 

 paper, % that they combine on simple exposure to day-light; and 

 that from the combination there results a peculiar acid gas, com- 

 posed of chlorine and carbonic oxide. May it not be a chemical 

 compound of muriatic and carbonic acids ? 



Mr. Murray tried some experiments, with a very ingenious 

 arrangement, of oxymuriatic gas, carbonic oxide, and ammo- 

 niacal gas. The public are already in possession of the results; 

 but it must be observed, that the confidence to which they might 

 otherwise appear entitled, seems somewhat lessened by the 

 recent discovery of an explosive compound, apparently of oxy- 

 muriatic gas and nitrogen. § 



IV. Water is formed in almost all Cases of the Evolution of 



Oxymuriatic Gas. 



The principal methods of obtaining oxymuriatic gas may be 

 ranked under two heads ; viz. 1. Muriatic acid made to aet on 

 the peroxide of manganese. 2. Hyper-oxymuriate of potash 

 exposed to the action of strong liquid muriatic acid. 



1. Of the Action of Muriatic Acid on the Peroxide of Man- 

 ganese. 



The common rationale given of this action, previous to the 

 new theory, was, that the peroxide of manganese being insoluble 

 in muriatic acid, while* the protoxide yields readily to it, the 

 various existing attractions, aided by heat, suffice to disunite the 

 manganese and the oxygen, which is instantly seized on by the 

 muriatic acid to form oxymuriatic gas. According to Sir H. 

 Davy's ideas of the nature of chlorine, we must have recourse 



» NichoNon's Journal, vol. xxviii. p. 138, &c. * 



t Nicholson's Journal, vol. xxviii. p. 19:J, &c. 

 ; Nicholson*! Journal, vol. xxx. p. 28. 



Be< .Nicholson's Journal, vol. xxxiv. pp. IHO, \!7i> 



