485 



iode with hydrogen ; whilst the oxidated base remains in solution in 

 the state of sulphate of potash. 



When the same compound is acted upon by nitric acid, nitrous 

 gas and the purple vapour are extricated. 



When this compound is acted upon by liquid muriatic acid, it is 

 completely dissolved. The excess of muriatic acid may be driven 

 off by heat, and the acid formed by iode and hydrogen found in the 

 liquor. 



When oxy-iodate of potash is dissolved in muriatic acid, muriate 

 of potash crystallizes, and the yellow compound of oxymuriatic gas 

 and iode remains in solution. 



When liquid ammonia is poured upon iode, the black fulminating 

 powder observed by MM. Desormes and Clement is produced ; and 

 the salt remaining in solution is found by Sir Humphry Davy to con- 

 sist of ammonia combined with iodic acid, such as was before formed 

 by the union of iode and hydrogen ; and he hence infers that the ful- 

 minating compound consists of iode and azote, since no azote escapes 

 during its formation. 



From several experiments made upon the proportion in which this 

 body unites with potassium, or with potash and with sodium, the 

 author infers that the number representing it will be about 165, that 

 for potassium being 75 ; and consequently that the acid gas formed 

 by its union with hydrogen must be by far the heaviest known gas. 



With respect to the electro-chemical properties of iode, the author 

 observes that it is not decomposed by voltaic electricity from points 

 of charcoal exposed to it in the state of purple vapour ; that it is 

 a non-conductor of electricity ; that it appears at the positive pole 

 when salts containing it are decomposed in the voltaic circuit, with 

 the exception of its combination with chlorine, from which it is, on 

 the contrary, found to pass to the negative surface. 



From all these facts, the author infers that iode is an undecom- 

 pounded body, resembling metals in specific gravity, lustre, colour, 

 and high elementary weight ; in chemical agency and electro-che- 

 mical habitudes resembling chlorine, fluorine, and oxygen, having a 

 stronger affinity than oxygen for most metals, but extricated from 

 most of them by chlorine ; agreeing with chlorine and fluorine in 

 forming a strong acid with hydrogen ; and with oxygen in forming 

 an acid with tin, and substances apparently alkaline, with potassium 

 or sodium, which neutralize dry boracic acid, and form with it a 

 purple glass, from which iode may be separated by sulphuric acid. 



In conclusion the author observes, that the acid formed by this 

 body with hydrogen and with tin may be termed liydriodic and 

 stanniodic acids. But for the salts which it forms with various bases, 

 he proposes some termination which shall be merely arbitrary, as 

 Argentama, for the compound it forms with silver ; Calcama, for its 

 compound with lime, &c. ; so that the fluate, iodate, and muriate of 

 lime are to be distinguished by the appellations of calcala, calcama, 

 calcana. 



