1816.] respecting the Nature of Oxymuriatic Acid. 275 
just as much oxygen as the basis uniting with the muriatic acid 
contains. ‘Thus it appears that the circumstance which has been 
advanced as a clear proof of the inaccuracy of the old theory is a 
necessary consequence of the precision of that theory, and conse- 
quently affords no sufficient reason for rejecting that theory. 
Even if we allow that the non-reduction of oxymuriatic acid by 
means of charcoal gives in the present state of our knowledge pro- 
bability to the new opinion, still it cannot be considered as esta- 
blished upon evidence which the science will admit as decisive. 
Though Davy considers it as evident that the oxygen comes from 
the base because it is equal to what the base contains in quantity, 
the advocate for the old opinion is entitled to assert that it comes 
from the acid, and that, according to the laws of definite propor- 
tions, it must be equal to the quantity contained in the base. It is 
the duty of the partisans of each opinion, therefore, to refute that 
of their antagonists by unequivocal experiments ; and as long as 
neither party can do this, neither the one nor the other can be con- 
sidered as established. 
I conceive that by these preliminary observations I have shown 
that the facts established by the new opinion are not inconsistent 
with the accuracy of the old one. It is, therefore, clear that, in 
order to account for appearances, it is not necessary to have recourse 
to any other explanation than what is furnished by the old opinion. 
1 have thought it necessary to state these things, in the first place, 
that the reader may not forget that he is not obliged by the pheno- 
mena to embrace one opinion more than the other, but is at liberty, 
after the comparison between them which I shall draw, to embrace 
at pleasure either the one or the other. 
I shall now review the most remarkable compounds of muriatic 
acid, fluoric acid, and icdic acid; but 1 shall dwell principally on 
the muriatic acid; and as Davy’s opinion appears to be almost 
universally adopted, I shall follow the order which it points out. 
I. Muriatic Acip. 
1. Chlorine is a Simple Body. 
It did not escape the sagacity of Davy that chlorine possesses 
many of the properties of oxidized bodies ; particularly the pro- 
perty of forming a combination with water capable of crystallizing, 
which is not the case with any other simple body. He allows in 
consequence, as we have seen, the probability that chlorine contains 
oxygen ; but will not admit that muriatic acid is one of its consti- 
tuent parts, It cannot be denied that this property of chlorine is 
not a little unfavourable to the new opinion, while it is perfectly 
consistent with the old one. 
2. Chlorine is a Combustible, or a Body capable of uniting to 
Oxygen. 
Chlorine is capable of combining with oxygen in two proportions, 
