646 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [ANNO 1800. 



passed, before the amount of the gas thus evolved was determined. In both, it 

 bore exactly the same proportion to the original gas ; which shows, that by con- 

 tinuing the electrization, no further effects were produced. 



A great variety of similar experiments convinced me, that by electrifying to- 

 gether the carbonated hydrogenous and muriatic gases, not the smallest progress 

 was made towards the decomposition of the latter. All that was thus effected, 

 consisted in the decomposition of the water of the 2 gases, by the carbon of the 

 combustible gas; and when this was completely accomplished, no further effect 

 ensued from continuing the electrization. The generation of carbonic acid was 

 proved by the following experiment. 



Exper. 14. To a mixture of carbonated hydrogen and muriatic gases, after 

 having received above 100 shocks, a drop of water was admitted, which absorbed 

 the muriatic acid. The liquid was then taken up by blotting-paper; and the re- 

 siduary gas, being transferred into another tube, was brought into contact with a 

 solution of pure barytic earth. The precipitation of this solution evinced the 

 presence of carbonic acid. 



It was desirable however that the effects should be ascertained, of electrifying 

 together pure muriatic acid and pure carbonated hydrogenous gas, both perfectly 

 free from water. Now, from the experiments related in § 1, it appears highly 

 probable, that a complete purification from moisture is produced, in both gases, 

 by the action of the electric fluid ; all the water they before contained being thus 

 decomposed. In the following experiments therefore the 2 gases were separately 

 electrified, before they were submitted to this process conjointly. 



Exper. 15. To a portion of muriatic acid, diminished by the action of electricity 

 from 144 to 121 measures, 27 measures of carbonated hydrogenous gas, expanded 

 as far as possible, were added, and 200 shocks passed through the mixture. The 

 addition of permanent gas amounted to 14 measures; 10 of which may be traced 

 to the muriatic acid, and were evolved by its separate electrization. The remaining 

 4 measures, which remain to be accounted for, are too small a quantity to be 

 ascribed to the decomposition of the acid. 



Exper. l6. To a quantity of carbonated hydrogenous gas, which had received 

 400 shocks, and occupied the space of 212 measures, were added 232 of muriatic 

 acid, through which 200 shocks had been previously passed. The electrization of 

 the mixture was next continued, till 800 discharges had taken place. On examining 

 the mixture of gases, during this operation, no change whatever took place; and 

 after its close no more muriatic acid had disappeared, than would have been 

 deficient after the first electrization; nor was there any further production of per- 

 manent gas. 



Exper. L7« The same result was obtained, by electrifying together 280 measures 

 of carbonated hydrogenous gas, previously expanded by 600 shocks, and 114 of 

 muriatic acid, after 400 shocks. The additional discharge through this mixture, 

 of 1 000 shocks, did not evince the smallest progress towards the decomposition of 

 the muriatic acid. 



