CHLORINE. 65 



sour ; acts on metals, and combines with alkalies, 

 forming chlorates. 



Chlorate of potash was formerly called oxymu- 

 riat of potash. It is a soluble white salt. When 

 heated it gives out oxygen, and the residue is 

 chloride of potassium. It forms extremely explo- 

 sive compounds with phosphorus, sulphur, and 

 charcoal. A grain, with a minute portion of phos- 

 phorus, laid upon an anvil, and struck with a 

 hammer, makes a very loud report; but this 

 experiment should not be attempted by the young 

 student. From its detonating quality, it had been 

 imagined that it could be used advantageously in 

 the manufacture of gunpowder, but it has not 

 succeeded. 



Chlorate of potash is made by causing a stream 

 of chlorine to go through a solution of caustic 

 potash. 



The combinations of chlorine with other simple 

 bodies, form chlorides, if they are not acids, as 

 chloride of sulphur, &c. 



Chlorine and hydrogen. This compound body, 

 which, according to the present nomenclature, is 

 called hydrochloric acid gas, was known by the 

 name of muriatic acid gas. It is readily obtained 

 by distilling a mixture of common sea salt and sul- 

 phuric acid. The sulphuric acid combines with the 

 soda, one of the constituents of salt ; and the other 

 constituent, the muriatic acid gas, is set free. Mu- 

 riatic acid gas cannot support life nor combustion. 

 It has a sharp pungent odour, and occasions white 

 fumes when it is mixed with moist atmospheric air. 

 It reddens vegetable blues. It combines with the 

 alkaline bases : with ammoniacal gas it forms mu- 

 riate of ammonia. 



VOL. II. F 



