MURIATES AND CHLORIDES, 



what makes the notion, that the hydrogen comes 

 from water decomposed, preferable to the other 

 is, that these metals cannot be thrown down 

 from the muriatic solution in any other state 

 than that of oxides. 



Copper dissolves, likewise, in muriatic acid ; 

 but very slowly, and without any sensible effer- 

 vescence. The solution is brown and opaque, 

 and the copper is at least chiefly in the state of 

 suboxide. I suppose the theory of this solution 

 the same as of the others, and that the want of 

 visible effervescence is to be ascribed to the 

 slowness of the process ; for more than a week 

 elapses before a few grains of copper can be dis- 

 solved in this acid. 



2. Most of the alkaline bases combine with Difference 



. . . , ,., 1-1 between 



muriatic acid very readily, and without any ap- muriates 

 parent alteration either in the acid or base. I rides. 

 suppose that all these combinations (or almost 

 all of them) while in solution, are in the state of 

 muriates, or that they are compounds of muriatic 

 acid, and the base unaltered. Whether they 

 continue muriates after they are separated in 

 crystals or in powder, depends upon circum- 

 stances, and can only be known by an examina- 

 tion of every particular compound. I shall, 

 therefore, take a review of all these compounds 

 which I have examined, and point out their va- 

 rious states as far as I have been able to deter- 

 mine them. 



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