IS 14.] On Iodine, Chlorine, Fluorine, ^c. ^431 



phenomena. It is impossible that the first of these'bodies should 

 be a compound of azote and chluiine, and the second of azote and 

 varinc, for such combinations are far from being spontaneously de- 

 composable, and with the disengagement of heat would be retained 

 by affinities as strong as the oxides of pliosphorus, sulpliur, and 

 carbon ; as they would consist of a combination between an acidi- 

 fiable combustible and an oxygenated acid, which could only exist 

 in consequence of a very considerable displacement of caloric. 

 Besides, water would resolve such compounds into muriatic or varic 

 acid and azote, more or less oxidated. The oil would be dry aqua 

 regia. You must perceive that tlie direct formation of hyperoxy- 

 muriate or hyperoxyvarate of ammonia, destroys tlie whole theory 

 which regards chlorine and varine as simple bodies, unless we admit 

 ammonia to be a metallic oxide ; for it is only by the decomposition 

 of that oxide, that oxygen could be supplied for the superoxy- 

 genation.- 



1 have found a combination between potash and oxygen, vvhich 

 water is not able to destroy without tne assistance of a strong heat. 

 Hence the oxygen is much more condensed in this compound than 

 in the ordinary peroxide of potassium. It is obtained by heating 

 in a retort a mixture of crystallized caustic potash and red oxide of 

 mercury, till the metal is reduced. There remains a white crys- 

 tallized salt, which is u hyperoxide of potassium. 



The subhydrates of potash and lime condense atmospheric air 

 without decomposing it ; and when heated after this absorption 

 give out pure azote, the oxygen remaining combined with the bases 

 constituting them oxygenated hydrates. 



I have combined dry fluoric acid [oy fluorine without oxygen, or 

 Jluore without Iiydrogen) with the metab. They constitute pow- 

 ders, of a more or less dark colour, which absorl) oxvgen wiien 

 heated, and are converted into dry fluates by the oxidation of the 

 metals. Water separates the dry acid and leaves the metal unal- 

 tered, when it is not oxidable by water. When it is oxidable 

 fiuates are formed. Tlu.se arc true salinable combustibles, as the 

 hydrogenated acids are acidiliable coml)ustibles ; and the same 

 bodies oxygenated sujiporters of combustion of that qualitv. In the 

 first the oxygen converts the metdls into oxides, in the second the 

 same principle converts the hydrogen into water, an,d in tlie third 

 the hydrogen converts the oxygen into the same liquid. 



Tiie oxides, as water, separate the metals from these compounds, 

 unless they be capable of oxidating them. 



We obtain the metallo-fluors by heating a mixture of fluor spar, 

 sulphuric acid, and an energetic metal reduced into leaves or tilings. 

 They may be obtained likewise by ])assing a current of hydrogen 

 gus on the lluates of the old metals, ])laeed out of the contact of 

 common air. The metals are reduced, and a portion of the acid 

 unites with them in preference to the hydrogen. They are ob- 

 tained likewise by the action of the ulkaline metals on silicated 

 Huoric acid gas. The earth is sejiaratcd, and the dry acid unites 



