421 

 acid ; but sublimed unaltered in carbonic, sulphureous, and muriatic 



In those instances where the salt was decomposed, the products 

 were carbonic and muriatic acid gases. It is remarkable, that in the 

 formation of this ammoniacal salt, the new gas combines with as 

 much as four times its bulk of ammoniacal gas. 



Tin, zinc, antimony, or arsenic, heated in this gas, combine with 

 the chlorine, forming the usual compounds, and extricate carbonic 

 oxide. The decomposition thus effected is completed in a few mi- 

 nutes, but without explosion or ignition. Nor was even the action 

 of potassium violent, although the decomposition was more complete ; 

 since the carbonic oxide itself was decomposed, and carbon deposited. 

 When the white oxide of zinc was employed instead of the metal, 

 the gas that remained was found to be carbonic acid. 



Sulphur or phosphorus might be sublimed in this gas without ef- 

 fecting any change upon it. Neither did hydrogen or oxygen singly 

 produce any effect by means of the electric spark ; but when both 

 were mixed in due proportion of two parts hydrogen with one oxy- 

 gen to two of the gas, an explosion took place, with the formation 

 of muriatic acid and carbonic acid. 



The power of this gas as an acid is such as to decompound dry sub- 

 carbonate of ammonia ; and its power of saturation is so remarkable, 

 that the quantity of ammonia, which was not saturated by two mea- 

 sures of carbonic acid, became fully saturated by only one measure 

 of the new gas, which had extricated those two measures. 



For the formation of this gas, it is absolutely necessary that its 

 constituents should be in a state of perfect dryness, otherwise it will 

 be mixed with carbonic acid and muriatic acid, in proportion to the 

 quantity of moisture present; for if water be admitted to it, the 

 whole is decomposed. 



If they be mixed in a receiver previously exhausted, the direct light 

 of the sun is not necessary ; daylight alone is sufficient to unite them 

 in less than twelve hours. But when they are mixed over mercury, 

 then it is requisite to expose them immediately to bright sunshine ; 

 for otherwise the chlorine is absorbed by the mercury, and carbonic 

 oxide alone remains. 



The author also has endeavoured to unite these gases in an earthen- 

 ware tube heated to redness, but without success. 



The specific gravity of the gas has not been directly measured, 

 but is inferred from the diminished bulk which it has been observed 

 to occupy, and the known weights of the two gases which compose 

 it. From these data, 100 cubic inches of gas are estimated to weigh 

 105-97 grains. 



The relative affinities of chlorine for carbonic oxide or for hydro- 

 gen, and of carbonic oxide for chlorine or for oxygen, appeared to 

 the author to be very nicely poised. 



Hydrogen does not decompose the new gas, neither does carbonic 

 oxide decompose muriatic gas ; and further, if equal parts of chlorine, 

 of hydrogen, and of carbonic oxide, be mixed and exposed to light, 



