CHLORIDES OF CARBON. 375 



between 205 and 212, producing a very loud detonation, and 

 shattering to pieces glass or cast-iron, but producing merely an 

 indentation in a leaden cup. It is resolved into chlorine and 

 nitrogen gases, the instantaneous production of which with heat 

 and light, is the cause of the violence of the explosion. The chlo- 

 ride of nitrogen is decomposed by most organic matters contain- 

 ing hydrogen ; and may be safely exploded by touching it with 

 the point of a cane-rod, which has been previously dipt in oil of 

 turpentine. 



The properties of this compound render its accurate analysis 

 almost impossible, and the correctness of the formula usually 

 assigned to it is very doubtful. M. Millon has shewn that it 

 may contain hydrogen, and is possibly a compound of chlorine 

 with amidogen, NH 2 C1. He formed from it corresponding 

 compounds, containing bromine, iodine and cyanogen, by dou- 

 ble decomposition, a bromide, iodide or cyanide of potassium 

 being introduced into the chloride of nitrogen for that pur- 



pose.* 



CHLORIDES OF CARBON. 



Perchloride of carbon, C 4 C1 6 . The compounds of these 

 elements are not formed directly, but were produced by Mr. 

 Faraday by the action of chlorine upon a certain compound of 

 carbon and hydrogen, and the circumstances of their formation 

 have been explained lately with singular felicity by M. 

 Regnault. Chlorine and olefiant gas C 4 H 4 combine together 

 in equal volumes, and condense as an oily looking body, of an 

 ethereal odour, which is known as the Dutch liquid, from hav- 

 ing been first formed by certain associated Dutch chemists, and 

 also as the chloride of olefiant gas, although the latter term is 

 objected to as incorrect in theory. Chemists have now agreed, 

 after much discussion, that the formula of this liquid is not 

 C 4 H 4 +2C1, but that its elements are thus arranged : 



Dutch liquid. . . C 4 H 3 ,C1 4- HC1. 

 It is a combination of hydrochloric acid HC1, with the 

 chloride of acetyl C 4 H 3 ,C1. Acetyl, or as it is also called 

 aldehydene (C 4 H 3 ) pervades an extensive series of compounds, 

 aldehydic and acetic acids, for instance, being oxides of this 

 radical, namely C 4 H 3 + 2O, and C 4 H 3 +3O; and these com- 



* An. <1 Ch. et de Ph. t. 69, p. 75. 



