CHLORINE. 81 



of copper there are two atoms of copper 

 united to one atom of oxygen, and the protomu- 

 riate of copper is a compound of one integrant 

 particle of muriatic acid, and two integrant parti- 

 cles ofsuboxide of copper, and the permuriate of 

 one atom muriatic acid, and one atom black oxide 

 of copper. Now, that this is the true constitution 

 of these two salts, I have ascertained by a care- 

 ful analysis of them. 



These facts being understood, we are pre- 

 pared for examining the chlorides of copper. 

 Of these chlorides, there are two the protochlo- 

 ride, obtained by heating the protomuriate in a 

 close vessel ; and the deutochloride, formed when 

 the permuriate is treated in the same way. 



Now, Dr. Davy analyzed the protochloride of 

 copper, and found it a compound of 



Copper 8 



Chlorine 4-5 



12-5* 



Two atoms of copper weighing eight, 4%5 must 

 represent the weight of an atom of chlorine. 



I dissolved 5 grains of black oxide of copper 

 in muriatic acid, and evaporated the solution to 

 dryness. The chloride of copper was obtained 

 in the state of a brownish yellow powder, and it 

 weighed exactly 8-5 grains. Now, 5 grains of 



* Phil. Trans. 1812. p. 170. 

 Vor. I. F 



