MURIATES AND CHLORIDES. 



natant liquid prevents the absorption of oxygen 

 by it. Protomuriate of iron has a light green 

 colour, exactly similar to that of protosulphate 

 of iron ; its taste is sweetish and astringent ; it 

 has the form of rhombic plates, which do not 

 deviate far from a right angle, but I was not able 

 to measure them. They are soluble both in water 

 and alcohol. I never could succeed in preserv- 

 ing the solution for any time without alteration, 

 but have kept the dry crystals for a considerable 

 time in a well stopped phial without their under- 

 going any alteration. The constituents of this 

 salt are as follows : 



1 atom muriatic acid . 4-625 

 1 atom protoxide of iron 4-500 



3 atoms water . 3-375 



12-5 



When 12*5 parts of this muriate are heated 

 sufficiently without the contact of air, the loss of 

 weight is 4*5 parts, equivalent to 4 atoms of wa- 

 ter, and there remain behind 8 parts of chloride 

 of iron, composed of 



1 atom chlorine . . 4-5 

 1 atom iron 3-5 



The chloride, thus formed, has a grey colour, a 

 good deal of lustre, and a lamellar texture. I 



