On a new Compound of Chlorine and Carbon. 55 



however underwent no change, but on cooling crystallized as 

 at first. It was also exposed in the same gas to sunlight for 

 many days, but no change took place. 



When raised in vapour over hot mercury, and detonated with 

 excess of oxygen, a quantity of carbonic acid gas and chloride 

 of mercury were produced. There was no change in the 

 volume of gas used ; and lime-water being passed into it ab- 

 sorbed the carbonic gas, became turbid, and left a residuum of 

 pure oxygen. Acetic acid being then added, to dissolve the 

 carbonate of lime, the solution was tested for chlorine, which 

 was readily found in it. When detonated with oxygen, the 

 substance being in excess, there was expansion of volume, car- 

 bonic oxide, carbonic acid and chloride of mercury being formed. 



When phosphorus, iron, tin, &c. were heated to redness in 

 its vapour over mercury, it was decomposed, chlorides of those 

 substances being formed, and charcoal deposited ; and M. Julin 

 has shown that the same effect is produced by potassium. 



Three grains of this substance were passed in vapour over 

 pure peroxide of copper, heated to redness in a green glass 

 tube : a very small portion passed undecomposed. The gas 

 received over mercury equalled 5*7 cubic inches ; it was car- 

 bonic acid gas. A small part of the oxiHe of copper was re- 

 duced, and portions of a crystalline body appeared within the 

 tube, which, on examination, proved to be chloride of copper. 

 Some of this was used in making experiments on its nature ; 

 but when that was ascertained, the remaining contents of the 

 tube were dissolved in nitric acid, and precipitated by nitrate 

 of silver: 6'1 grains of chloride of silver were obtained. 



Two grains were passed over pure quick-lime, raised to a 

 red heat in a green glass tube. The moment the vapour came 

 in contact with the hot lime, ignition took place, and the earth 

 burned as long as the vapour passed over it. When cold, the 

 tube was examined, and much charcoal found deposited at the 

 spot where the ignition occurred. The contents of the tube 

 were dissolved in nitric acid, and the filtered solution precipi- 

 tated by nitrate of silver: 5*9 grains of chloride of silver were 

 obtained. 



These results afford us sufficient data from which to deduce 

 the nature and composition of this body. All the experiments 

 of decomposition indicate it to contain chlorine and carbon, and 



