130 On Iodine. ‘Aue. 
I have already remarked, that from 100 parts of chlorate of 
potash we may obtain 38°88 of oxygen and 61°12 of chloruret of 
potassium, and that this chloruret is composed of 28°924 chlorine, 
and 32°196 metal. Further, as | have demonstrated that potassium 
is in the state of potash in the chlorate, we must give it 6°576 of 
the 38°88 of oxygen. There will remain 32°304 to convert the 
28°924 of chlorine into chloric acid. But what hypothesis soever 
we adopt with respect to the existence of the hydrochlorates, the 
oxygen can only have been furnished to the chlorine either by the 
potash or the water. On the first supposition there will be formed 
evidently a quantity of chloruret of potassium, proportional to the 
quantity of oxygen which the potash has furnished to the chlorine. 
And as that obtained from the decomposition of the chlorate is 
neutral, and that it is equally proportional to the oxygen which its 
potassium would take to be converted into potash, we see that the 
quantity of chloruret of potassium which forms at the same time 
with the chlorate, will be to that of the chloruret obtained from 
the decomposition of the same chlorate, as 32°304 to 6°576, or 
nearly as 5 to 1; andthe quantity of chlorate will be to that of 
. the chloruret formed at the same time as 100 to 800°2, 
On the second supposition such a quantity of water will be de-. 
composed, that there will result 32°304 of oxygen for the chlo- 
rine, that is to say, 36°59, and the corresponding hydrogen will 
form with the chlorine hydrochloric acid, which will saturate the 
potash. We will then have for the proportion of chlorate to hydro- 
chlorate, 100 to 300°2 + 36°59; or 100 to 336°79. We must 
suppose that the hydrochlorate remains in solution in water; for I 
have demonstrated, that as soon as the water is removed, even by a 
very gentle evaporation, it is converted into chloruret of potassium. 
The proportion of 100 chlorate to 300°2 chloruret, which I 
have just determined is very different from that found by expe- 
rience. Mr, Chenevix, in his paper on oxymuriatic acid (Phil. 
‘Trans. xcii. 132) finds that there are formed 16 parts of chlorate 
for 84 of chloruret. Correcting this ratio from his data, and the 
results which 1 have just establisned, [ find 14°4 of chlorate to 
85°6 of chloruret, or 100 to 595-4. M. Berthollet (Stat. Chim. 
ii. 198) says, that he obtained a proportion still weaker. If these 
proportions were nearly exact, it would follow, that we have not 
attended to all the circumstances whicli accompany the formation of 
chlorate and chloruret ; for otherwise what hypothesis soever we 
adopt, the proportions of chlorate to chloruret and to hydro- 
chlorate, cannot differ from those which L have just established, 
supposing the data correct from which I set out. To determine 
this point I made the following experiments. 
1 passed chlorine into a somewhat concentrated solution of potash, 
till it refused any longer to dissolve in it.* The liquid was green- 
* It has been believed that the property which the chlorates have of being 
