158 Chemistiy. [Lecture 29. 



combination of muriatic acid and oxygen, oxy- 

 muriatic acid. 



It arises in the form of gas or vapour of a yel- 

 lowish-green colour, and of a pungent and dis- 

 agreeable smell. It is readily absorbed by water, 

 constituting a liquor not acid, but astringent, to 

 the taste, yet approaching more nearly than any 

 known fluid to the character of a universal sol- 

 vent, few substances being exempt from its ac- 

 tion, and gold, which resists so many menstrua, 

 yielding immediately to this. It kills animals 

 which respire it, but supports combustion even 

 better than common air in many cases, and sets 

 fire to various combustibles, and even metals, 

 when plunged into it in a dry and divided 

 state. 



It rapidly destroys vegetable colours without 

 turning the blues to red. This property it re- 

 tains in the liquid state, and combined with the 

 alkalies or lime. It is accordingly become an 

 instrument of the utmost value, under judicious 

 management, to bleachers, who are able by its 

 aid to accelerate at will that long process of oxy- 

 genation, by which the joint powers of light, air, 

 and water, slowly and imperceptibly extracted 

 from the fibre of linen and cotton their original 

 dusky tinge. With the alkalies, metals, &c. it 

 forms salts of singular properties. 



Chlorine unites with oxygen in three propor- 

 tions, forming, 1. Oxide of chlorine, or euchlorine. 



