378 CHLORINE. 



It is interesting to observe how a body retains, after so many 

 mutations, such distinct traces of its origin. From its analysis 

 it might be a compound of single equivalents, C Cl, of the sim- 

 plest nature, and so it was considered when named protochloride 

 of carbon, but there have been found in it the 4 C of alcohol, 

 to which compound we can trace it back, by many steps but 

 with perfect certainty. 



Subchloride of carbon. Another compound of this class 

 exists, of which a specimen produced accidentally was examined 

 by Messrs. Phillips and Faraday. Regnault has formed it, by 

 making the preceding liquid compound pass several times 

 through a tube at a bright red heat. It condenses in the coldest 

 parts of the tube in very fine silky crystals, which may be 

 taken up by ether, and obtained perfectly pure by a second sub- 

 limation. The analysis of this substance proves that its elements 

 are in the proportion of 2 equivalents of carbon to 1 of chlorine, 

 but the number of its equivalents is indeterminate, as its den- 

 sity is unknown. If it belongs to the foregoing series, its for- 

 mula will be C 4 C1 2 . 



Chlorocarbonic acid gas, CO,C1. This gas is made by ex- 

 posing equal measures of chlorine and carbonic oxide to sun- 

 shine, when rapid but silent combination ensues, and they con- 

 tract to one half their volume. It is decomposed by water, 

 hydrochloric and carbonic acids being formed, and does not 

 combine with bases to form salts. It belongs to the carbonic 

 oxide series. 



Chloride of boron, B C1 3 . A gaseous compound of these 

 elements was obtained by Berzelius, by transmitting chlorine 

 over boron heated in a glass tube, and by Dumas by transmitting 

 the same gas over a mixture of boracic acid and carbon ignited 

 in a porcelain tube. Its density was found to be 4079 by 

 Dumas, and it is considered a terchloride. 



Chloride of silicon, Si C1 3 . This compound is obtained by 

 similar processes as the last. It is a limpid and volatile liquid, 

 boiling at 1 24, and is converted by water into hydrochloric acid 

 and silica. 



Chloride of sulphur, S 2 C1. This compound was first ob- 

 tained by Dr. Thomson in 1804. To prepare it, 2 or 3 ounces 

 of flowers of sulphur may be introduced into the body of a tu- 

 bulated retort and gently warmed. Dry chlorine is conducted 

 to the sulphur, by a quill tube descending through a perforated 



