1827.] On Labarraque's Disinfecting Soda Liquid. 223 



be carried over into the alkali. The common air ejected from 

 the bottle containing the solution was collected and examined; 

 but from the beginning to the end of the operation not a par- 

 ticle of carbonic acid was disengaged from the solution, 

 although the chlorine was readily absorbed. Ultimately a 

 liquid of a very pale yellow colour was obtained, being the 

 same as M. Labarraque's soda liquor, and with which the 

 investigations were made that will hereafter be described. 



3. An experiment was then instituted, in which the effect of 

 excess of chlorine, upon a solution of carbonate of soda of the 

 same strength as the former, was rendered evident. The 

 solution was put into two Woulfe's bottles, the chlorine well 

 washed and passed through, until ultimately it bubbled through 

 both portions without absorption of any appreciable quantity. 

 As soon as the common air was expelled, the absorption of the 

 chlorine was so complete in the first bottle, that no air or gas 

 of any kind passed into the second, a proof that carbonic acid 

 was not liberated in that stage of the experiment. Continuing 

 the introduction of the chlorine, the solution in the first bottle 

 gradually became yellow, the gas not being yet visible by its 

 colour in the atmosphere above the solution, although chlorine 

 could be detected there by litmus paper. Up to this time no 

 carbonic acid gas had been evolved ; but the first alkaline 

 solution soon acquired a brighter colour, and now carbonic 

 acid gas began to separate from all parts of it, and passing 

 over into the second bottle, carried a little chlorine with it. 

 The soda solution in the first bottle still continued to absorb 

 chlorine, whilst the evolution of carbonic acid increased, and 

 the colour became heightened. After some time the evolution 

 of carbonic acid diminished, smaller quantities of the chlorine 

 were absorbed by the solution, and the rest passing into the 

 atmosphere in the bottle, went from thence into the second 

 vessel, and there caused the same series of changes and actions 

 that had occurred in the first. The solution in the first bottle 

 was now of a bright chlorine yellow colour, and the gas bubbled 

 up through it as it would through saturated water. 



4. When the chlorine had saturated the soda solution in the 

 second bottle, and an excess of gas sufficient to fill several large 

 jars had been passed through the whole apparatus, the latter 

 was dismounted, the solutions put into bottles and distinguished 



