1820.] of Chlorine and Carbon, $c. 39 



lizes as it cools, and the cold solution also gives crystals by 

 spontaneous evaporation. When poured into water, the chlo- 

 ride is precipitated, and falls to the bottom in flakes. If burnt, 

 the flame of the alcohol is brightened by the presence of the 

 substance, and fumes of muriatic acid are liberated. Solution 

 of nitrate of silver does not produce any turbidness in it, unless 

 it be in such quantity that the water throws down the substance; 

 but no chloride of silver is formed. 



It is much more soluble in aether than in alcohol, and more 

 so in hot than in cold aether. The hot solution deposits cry- 

 stals as it cools ; and the crystallization of a cold solution, when 

 evaporated on a glass plate, is very beautiful. This solution 

 is not precipitated by water, unless the aether has previously 

 been dried, and then water occasions a turbidness. Nitrate of 

 silver does not precipitate it. When burned, muriatic acid 

 fumes are liberated, but the greater part of the chloride remains 

 in the capsule. 



It is soluble in the volatile oils, and on evaporation is again 

 obtained in crystals. It is also readily soluble in fixed oils. 

 The solutions when heated liberate muriatic acid gas, and the 

 oil becomes of a dark colour, as if charred. 



Solutions of the acids and alkalies do not act with any energy 

 on the substance. "When boiled with solutions of pure potash 

 and soda, it rises and condenses in the upper part of the ves- 

 sel ; and though it be brought down to the alkali many times 

 and reboiled, still the alkali, when examined, is not found to 

 contain any chlorine, nor is any change produced. Ammonia 

 in solution is also without action upon it. These solutions do 

 not appear to dissolve more of it than pure water. 



Muriatic acid in solution does not act at all upon it. Strong 

 nitric acid boiled upon it dissolves a portion, but does not 

 decompose it : as it cools, part of the chloride is deposited un- 

 altered, and the concentrated acid, when diluted, lets more fall 

 down. The diluted portion being filtered, and tested with 

 nitrate of silver, gives no precipitate. It does not appear to be 

 either soluble in, or acted upon by, concentrated sulphuric acid. 

 It sinks slowly in the acid, and, when heated, is converted into 

 vapour, which, rising through the acid, condenses in the upper 

 part of the tube. 



It is not acted upon by oxygen at temperatures under a, red 



