1850.] of Chlorine and Carbon, $c. 35 



and the whole again exposed to sunlight: the colour again 

 disappeared, and a few moist crystals were formed round the 

 edge of the fluid. Chlorine being a third time introduced, and 

 treated as before, it still removed more hydrogen ; and now a 

 sublimate of crystals lined the retort. Proceeding in this way 

 until the chlorine exerted no further action, the fluid entirely 

 disappeared, and the results were, the dry crystalline substance 

 and muriatic acid gas. 



A portion of olefiant gas was then mixed in a retort with 

 eight or nine times its bulk of chlorine, and exposed to sun- 

 light. At first the fluid formed, but this instantly disappeared ; 

 the retort became lined with crystals, and the colour of the 

 chlorine very much diminished. 



On examining these crystals, I found they were the com- 

 pound I was in search of; but before I give the proofs of their 

 nature, I will describe the process by which this chloride of 

 carbon can be obtained pure. 



Perchloride of Carbon. A glass vessel was made in the 

 form of an alembic head, but without the beak ; the neck was 

 considerably contracted, and had a brass cap with a stopcock 

 cemented on ; at the top was a small aperture, into which a 

 ground stopper fitted air-tight. The capacity of the vessel 

 was about 200 cubic inches. Being exhausted by the air- 

 pump, it was nearly filled with chlorine ; and being then placed 

 over olefiant gas, and as much as could enter having passed in, 

 the stopcocks were shut, and the whole left for a short time. 

 When the fluid compound of chlorine and olefiant gas had 

 formed and condensed on the sides of the vessel, it was again 

 placed over olefiant gas, and in consequence of the condensa- 

 tion of a large portion of the gases, a considerable quantity 

 more entered. This was left, as before, to combine with part 

 of the remaining chlorine, to condense, and to form a partial 

 vacuum ; which was again filled with olefiant gas, and the pro- 

 cess repeated until all the chlorine had united to form the fluid, 

 and the vessel remained full of olefiant gas. Chlorine was then 

 admitted in repeated portions as before; consequently more 

 of the fluid formed ; and ultimately a large portion was ob- 

 tained in the bottom of the vessel, and an atmosphere of chlo- 

 rine above it. It was now exposed to sunlight. The chlorine 

 immediately disappeared, and the vessel became filled with 



