CHLORINE. 63 



centrated sulphuric acid and pour into the funnel. 

 As soon as the decomposition of the water and that 

 of the muriate takes place, flashes of fire will be 

 seen to issue from the bottom of the vessel, having 

 a screen colour. 



If a ribbon be impregnated by a solution of gold, 

 and hung in a jar containing this gas, the gold will 

 be revived, and will gild the ribbon. 



CHLORINE. 



This gaseous body is now generally regarded as 

 an elementary substance : but it was lately con- 

 sidered as a combination of muriatic acid with oxy- 

 gen, and was hence called oxygenated muriatic 

 acid gas. 



It is obtained by heating a mixture of muriatic 

 acid and black oxide of manganese over a lamp : 

 the chlorine will be evolved. In this process, ac- 

 cording to the present theory respecting the ele- 

 mentary nature of chlorine, the oxide of manganese 

 and muriatic acid decompose each other : the oxy- 

 gen of the oxide unites to the hydrogen of the 

 muriatic acid to form water, leaving the other 

 constituent of the acid, viz. the chlorine, disen- 

 gaged. 



Chlorine is rapidly dissolved by water, the so- 

 lution being of a pale yellow colour : it has a 

 nauseous taste, and an extremely suffocating smell. 

 When the gas is perfectly free from moisture, it 

 has no action on vegetable colours, but, dissolved 

 in water, it destroys them entirely. 



From this property, it is extensively employed in 

 shortening the process of bleaching linen, and 

 also paper; but it is said that it is apt to injure 



