268 Experiments to determine the [Oct. 



Hence it will appear that 100 cubic inches of acid gas consist of 

 182*677 cubic inches of gaseous matter, holding dissolved 8'7047 

 grains of sulphur, all condensed into a volume of 100 cubic inches. 

 The weight of all these materials, 35 - 38 grains, corresponds exactly 

 with the calculated weight of 100 cubic inches of acid gas. 



The kydrogenated acid gas seems to be a curious combination. 

 The action of the acid on metals and metallic salts appears to differ 

 very materially from that of other known combinations. Although, 

 like muriatic acid gas, it contains hydrogen united to an acid basis; 

 yet in combining with oxides its hydrogen is liberated, while that of 

 muriatic acid gas is retained in combination.* The hydrogen en its 

 liberation is found to occupy a larger volume than when united to 

 the acid gas; and if we were to estimate the quantity of acid gas in 

 the mixed gas from the amount of absorption by a metallic solution, 

 we should evidently be wrong. By adding the difference between 

 the volumes of the disengaged hydrogen in its combined and un- 

 combined states, to the amount of the apparent absorption, the 

 product will yield the volume of the acid gas in the mixed gas. 

 We will cite an example : a portion of the mixed gas was sent 

 through a solution of the muriate of bismuth, when a bronzy 

 precipitate immediately formed from the union of the acid gas with 

 the oxide of bismuth ; the amount of diminution was 33'77 per 

 cent. The residuum contained hydrogen, which, on being deto- 

 nated with oxygen in Volta's eudiometer, indicated an amount of 

 30' 46 per cent, of the original volume of the mixed gas. Now the 

 volume of the hydrogen in the condensed state of combination was 

 16-76. Then 30*46 — 1676 = 137 difference of volumes: 

 3377 + l%'1 — 4 7"47 3 volume of acid gas per cent, of mixed 



M G AG H 



gas. Hence ICO — 4/'47 — 1676 = 3577 azote remaining, 

 which quantities will, on referring to the table, agree remarkably 

 well with the calculated volumes of the various ingredients of the 

 mixed gas. The small increased amount of hydrogen is owing to 

 the gas having remained a long while over mercury, the results of 

 the table having been estimated from the data afforded by its action 

 on the oxide of lead when first put to trial. 



* This is owing to the constitution of muriatic acid. It will perhaps be worth 

 •while to mention that 1 am engaged in an interesting pursuit, in endeavouring to 

 discover the form, disposition, and constitution, of the ultimate particles of bodies ; 

 acd the conclusions at which I am arrived are highly satisfactory. One of these 

 conclusions enable me to announce that the long contested dispute with regard to 

 the nature of chlorine will probably be shortly settled. 1 have deduced an atom 

 of dry muriatic acid to be composed of three atoms of hydrogen and three atoms 

 of o.wgen, or of 1 1 "75 hydrogen and 8S'25 oxygen; chlorine, of one atom of 

 muriatic acid and one atom of oxygen, or 3 H + 4 O, or 90-93 hydrogen and 

 9-07 oxygen, or 7726 muriatic acid and 'J2'73 oxygen ; muriatic acid gas, of one 

 atom of chlorine and one atom of hydrogen, or one of muriatic acid and one of 

 water, or of 88'25 oxjgen and 11-75 hydrogen, or 97*07 chlorine and 2 - 93 

 hydrogen, or 75 muriatic acid and 35 water. The weight of an atom of muriatic 

 acid will then be 3 - 399 ; of chlorine, 4-399; of muriatic acid gas, 4"533; the 

 two latter being about equal to those ascertained by Sir II. Davy. 



