1820.] of Chlorine and Carbon, $c. 49 



separating chlorine from the perchloride of carbon produces 

 its decomposition, light occasions its reproduction. 



It dissolves iodine very readily, and forms a brilliant red 

 solution, similar in colour to that made by putting iodine into 

 sulphuret of carbon or chloric aether. It does not exert any 

 further action on iodine at common temperatures. 



An electric spark passed through a mixture of the vapour of 

 the chloride with hydrogen, does not cause any detonation; 

 but when many are passed, the decomposition is gradually 

 effected, and muriatic acid is formed. When hydrogen and 

 the vapour of the protochloride are passed through a red-hot 

 tube, there is a complete decomposition effected, muriatic acid 

 gas being formed, and charcoal deposited. The mixed vapour 

 and gas burn with flame as they arrive in the hot part of the 

 tube. The vapour of the protochloride detonates readily by 

 the electric spark with a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen 

 gases, and a complete decomposition is effected. It will not 

 detonate with the vapour of water. 



Sulphur and phosphorus both dissolve in it, but exert no 

 decomposing action at temperatures at or below the boiling- 

 point of the chloride. The hot solution of sulphur becomes a 

 solid crystalline mass by cooling. Phosphorus decomposes it 

 at a red heat. 



Its action on metals is very similar to that of the perchloride. 

 When passed over them at a red heat, it forms chlorides, and 

 liberates charcoal. Potassium does not act on it immediately 

 at common temperatures ; but, when heated in its vapour, 

 burns brilliantly, and deposits charcoal. 



When passed over heated metallic oxides, chlorides of the 

 metals are formed, and carbonic oxide or carbonic acid, ac- 

 cording to the state of oxidation of the metal. When its 

 vapour is transmitted over heated lime, baryta, or strontia, the 

 same brilliant combustion is produced as with the perchloride. 

 While engaged in analysing this chloride of carbon for the 

 purpose of ascertaining the proportions of its elements, I en- 

 deavoured at first to find how much chlorine was liberated 

 from a certain weight of perchloride during its conversion into 

 protochloride, and for this purpose distilled the perchloride 

 through red-hot tubes into solution of nitrate of silver, receiving 

 the gas into tubes filled with and immersed in the same solu- 



E 



