1816.] respecting the Nature of Oxymuriatic Acid. 277 
more complete destruction of the electro-chemical opposition ia the 
bodies united together. ‘Thus, for example, potassium separates the 
metal from oxide of copper with the appearance of fire, but from 
the oxide of iron only with an increase of temperature; because 
iron has a stronger affinity for oxygen than copper has, and there- 
fore destroys the electro-chemical properties of oxygen more com- 
pletely than copper (though potassium destroys them still more 
eompletely). 
Potash free from water (obtained by the action of potassium on 
the peroxide of potassium) exposed to the action of oxymuriatic gas, 
absorbs it with an increase of temperature, which when the potash 
has been previously heated amounts to the appearance of fire. The 
same thing takes place with the hydrate of potash, though in a less 
degree. By this absorption oxygen gas is set at liberty. If this 
oxygen proceeds from the potash, the experiment would show that 
chlorine has a stronger affinity for potassium than oxygen has, and 
therefore that it destroys the electro-cheimical properties of potas- 
sium more completely than oxygen does; and consequently that 
chlorine is a more electro-negative body than oxygen. But chlorine 
constitutes the basis of euchlorine and chlorie acid, that is, the 
electro-positive ingredient; therefore chlorine is less electro-nega- 
tive than oxygen ; but it is self-evident that it cannot be at the same 
time both more and less negative than oxygen. Therefore the sepa- 
ration of the oxygen from the potash in these experiments is incon- 
sistent with the electro-chemical doctrine. Hence it clearly follows 
that either the electro-chemical doctrine, or the new opinion re~ 
specting the nature of chlorine, must be false. On the other hand, 
according to the old doctrine, it is very conceivable that in the 
super-oxide of muriatic acid the acid allows the excess of its oxygen 
to escape, in order to combine with the salifiable basis, for which it 
has a greater affinity. As the quantity of oxygen in the new com- 
pound remains the same, the separation proceeds entirely from the 
affinity of the radical of the basis of the salt. Hence it follows that 
the explanation afforded by the old theory is perfectly satisfactory, 
and agrees with the other parts of the theory of chemistry. 
4. Chlorine combines with Sulphur, and forms a, Chloride of 
Sulphur. 
The chloride of sulphur is the muriate of sulphur discovered by 
Thomson ; and, according to the old doctrine, it must be a com- 
pound of muriatic acid and the oxide of sulphur. With respect to 
this compound, the new doctrine appears at first sight to have a 
great superiority over the old one, because it is not under the neces- 
sity of admitting the existence of one oxide of sulphur no where 
else to be found. Yet such a supposition is by no means impro- 
bable. We are acquainted with several bodies not capable of exist- 
ing insulated in a particular degree of oxidation, and which are de- 
composed whenever we attempt to procure them in a separate state. 
