34 On two new Compounds [1850. 



cumstance which first tended to correct the erroneous opinions 

 which, after Scheele's time, and before the year 1810, had gone 

 abroad respecting its nature, proved an obstacle to the forma- 

 tion of its compounds ; and up to the present time the chlo- 

 rides of carbon have escaped the researches of chemists. 



That the difficulty met with in forming a compound of chlo- 

 rine and carbon was probably not owing to any want or weak- 

 ness of affinity between the two bodies, was pointed out by Sir 

 H. Davy ; who, reasoning on the triple compound of chlorine, 

 carbon and hydrogen, concluded that the attraction of the two 

 bodies for each other was by no means feeble ; and the dis- 

 covery of phosgene gas by Dr. Davy, in which chlorine and 

 carbon are combined with oxygen, was another circumstance 

 strongly in favour of this opinion. 



I was induced last summer to take up this subject, and have 

 been so fortunate as to discover two chlorides of carbon, and 

 a compound of iodine, carbon and hydrogen, analogous in its 

 nature to the triple compound of chlorine, carbon and hydro- 

 gen, sometimes called chloric aether. I shall endeavour in the 

 following pages to describe these substances, and give the ex- 

 perimental proofs of their nature. 



If chlorine and olefiant gas be mixed together, it is well 

 known that condensation takes place, and a colourless limpid 

 volatile fluid is produced, containing chlorine, carbon and 

 hydrogen. If the volumes of the two gases are equal, the 

 condensation is perfect. If the olefiant gas is in excess, that 

 excess is left unchanged. But if the chlorine is in excess, the 

 fluid becomes of a yellow tint, and acid fumes are produced. 

 This circumstance alone proves that chlorine can take hydro- 

 gen from the fluid ; and on examination I found it was with- 

 out the liberation of any carbon or chlorine. 



That the action thus begun might be carried to its utmost 

 extent, some of the pure fluid (chloric aether) was put into a 

 retort with chlorine, and exposed to sunshine. At the first 

 instant of contact between the chlorine and the fluid, the latter 

 became yellow ; but when in the sun's rays, a few moments 

 sufficed to destroy the colour both of the fluid and the chlo- 

 rine, heat being at the same time evolved. On opening the 

 retort, there was no absorption, but it was found full of muri- 

 atic acid gas. This was expelled and more chlorine introduced, 



