74 



Fifth species. Hyperoxygenized muriate of lime. 



Hyperoxygenized muriatic acid 55'2 



Lime 28'3 



Water 16'5 



100-0 



The sixth species of hyperoxygenized muriate of ammonia cannot 

 be formed by direct combination. By pouring a solution of car- 

 bonate of ammonia into a solution of any of the earthy hyperoxyge- 

 nized muriates, the earth is precipitated with the carbonic acid, and 

 hyperoxygenized muriate of ammonia remains in the liquor. This 

 salt is decomposed at a low temperature, and has all the characters of 

 the genus to which it belongs. It is a very striking example of the 

 force of co-operating affinities which can unite this acid with ammo- 

 nia ; while oxygenized muriatic acid decomposes that alkali. It is 

 also a proof of the different attractions exercised by these two acids 

 toward the salifiable bases. 



Hyperoxygenized muriate of magnesia is the seventh species. Its 

 proportions are, 



Hyperoxygenized muriatic acid 60'0 



Magnesia 25' 7 



Water 14'3 



100-0 



The author has not determined the proportions of the eighth spe- 

 cies, viz. hyperoxygenized muriate of alumina, because this salt was 

 always decomposed by phosphate of silver ; and he imagines that 

 hyperoxygenized muriate of silica does not exist. 



He then states some corrections which he has made in the propor- 

 tions of common muriates, respecting the quantity of water they con- 

 tain. This he esteems to have been rated too high by the chemists 

 who have examined them. He exposed a given weight of muriate 

 of potash to a red heat, and examined it to know if any of the acid 

 had been expelled. Some portion had been volatilized, and upon 

 this correction he established the proportions he has announced in 

 this paper. 



He then passes to the metallic salts of this genus, a number of 

 which he has formed by passing a current of oxygenized muriatic acid 

 through water, in which the oxide was suspended. Copper, iron, 

 lead, and silver, he readily combined with the acid. The last of these 

 salts he considers with greater attention for two reasons : first, be- 

 cause it affords a very striking difference between the hyperoxyge- 

 nized and common muriatic acids ; and, secondly, on account of its 

 extraordinary properties. This salt is soluble in three parts of water, 

 crystallizes by cooling, is not affected by light, but is decomposed by 

 all the weak acids, even vinegar. Rubbed in a mortar with about 

 three-fourths of sulphur, it detonates by a very gentle pressure, and 

 with so much violence that Mr. Chenevix estimates the expansive 

 force at nearly ten times that of a mixture of sulphur and hyperoxy- 

 genized muriate of potash. 



