CHLORINE, 



87 



forces out the stopper, while a quantity of mu- 

 riatic acid gas makes its escape. 



TABLE EXHIBITING THE SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF MURIATIC 

 ACID OF DETERMINATE STRENGTHS. 



Muriatic acid, composed of 1 atom acid, and 

 16 atoms water, or that which contains 20-442 

 per cent, of real acid, seems to be the most inti- 

 mate combination of acid and water. For its 

 boiling point is a maximum, being 232, accord- 

 ing to Dalton ; while acid either weaker or 

 stronger than this boils at a lower temperature. 

 Indeed the boiling point of acid of the specific 

 gravity 1-203 is not higher than 107. 



The muriates, or the salts formed by the com- 

 bination of muriatic acid with the different bases, 

 deserve the particular attention of chemists in 

 many points of view. I shall devote a separate 



F4 



