84 On Hydrate of Chlorine. [1823. 



verted into muriatic acid. It was then slightly heated, neu- 

 tralized by pure nitric acid, precipitated by nitrate of silver, 

 and the chloride of silver obtained and weighed. 



The following is an experiment conducted in this way : 

 65 grains of the pressed crystals were put into the flask, and 

 the ammonia added ; at one time there was a faint smell of 

 chloride of nitrogen for an instant at the mouth of the flask, 

 and a little more ammonia was added. The next day 73'2 grs. 

 of chloride of silver were obtained from the solution, and if 

 this be considered as equivalent to 18 grs. of chlorine, then 

 the 65 grs. of hydrate must have contained 47 grs. of water, 

 or per cent. 



Chlorine . , * . 27-7 



Water . . > * 72'3 



This nearly accords with 10 proportionals of water to 1 of 

 chlorine, and I have chosen it because it gave the largest pro- 

 portion of chlorine of any experiment I made. It is evident 

 that any loss or error either in the drying the crystals, or in 

 the conversion of the chlorine into muriatic acid by the am- 

 monia, would tend to diminish the proportion of that element ; 

 and it is even possible that the above proportion of chlorine is 

 under-rated, but I .believe it to be near the truth. The mean 

 of several other experiments gave 



Chlorine .... 26*3 



Water .... 73'6 



Note. Since writing the above, Mr. Faraday has succeeded in condensing 

 chlorine into a liquid ; for this purpose a portion of the solid and dried hy- 

 drate of chlorine is put into a small bent tube and hermetically sealed ; it is 

 then heated to about 100, and a yellow vapour is formed which condenses 

 into a deep yellow liquid heavier than water (sp. gr. probably about 1'3). 

 Upon relieving the pressure by breaking the tube, the condensed chlorine 

 instantly assumes its usual state of gas or vapour. 



When perfectly dry chlorine is condensed into a tube by means of a 

 syringe, a portion of it assumes the liquid form under a pressure equal to 

 that of 4 or 5 atmospheres. 



By putting some muriate of ammonia and sulphuric acid into the opposite 

 ends of a bent glass tube, sealing it hermetically, and then suffering the acid 

 to run upon the salt, muriatic acid is generated under such pressure as causes 

 it to assume the liquid form ; it is of an orange colour, lighter than sulphu- 

 ric acid, and instantly assumes the gaseous state when the pressure is removed. 

 Sir H. Davy has given an account of this experiment to the Royal Society. 

 It is probable that by a similar mode of treatment several other gases may 

 be liquefied. 



