Chlorine and Hydrogen. 34B 



In this instance, as well as in the other, the undulating 

 white fume was observed; and, in both cases, the air around 

 a ad above, for several yards, was filled with a dense white 

 cloud, which appeared to be muriatic acid gas, condensed 

 by the moisture of the air. These facts are not stated be- 

 cause they are new, (as they evidently are not,) but they will 

 serve to give additional force to the caution derived from 

 another fact which we are now to mention. 



Being desirous to ascertain whether this remarkable effect 

 could be produced by the radiation of a common culinary 

 fire, we filled a common Florence-oil flask (well cleaned) 

 half full of chlorine gas, and were in the act of introducing 

 the hydrogen in the pneumatic cistern. There was not only 

 no direct emanation from the sun, but even the diffuse light 

 was rendered much feebler than common, by a thick snow 

 storm, which had covered the sky-light above with a thick 

 mantle, and veiled the heavens in a singular degree, even for 

 such a storm. Under these circumstances, the hydrogen 

 was scarcely all introduced, before the flask exploded, with 

 a distinct flame;* portions of the glass stuck in the wood 

 work of the ceiling of the room, and the face and eyes 

 escaped, by being out of the direction of the explosion : 

 nothing but the neck of the flask remained in hand. This 

 occurrence, then, proves, that a mixture of chlorine and hy- 

 drogen gases may explode spontaneously, even in a diffuse 

 light, and even in a very dim light. We have not seen this 

 fact mentioned by any writer, and have therefore been thus 

 minute for the sake of cautioning others. It is evident, that 

 the explosion of considerable quantities of these gases, when 

 the operator is near, must be attended with great danger : 

 and it is therefore obvious, that some peculiar precautions 

 are requisite when this experiment is repeated. Such pre- 

 cautions have occurred to us, but, as we have not had op- 

 portunity to put them in practice, we forbear to state then"i 

 at present. 



The progress of chemistry has been such in this age, as 

 frequently to demonstrate, that tremendous energies are 

 slumbering all around us ; we grope on in our experiments, 

 walking, without solicitude, over hidden mines; and, fre- 

 quently, the first hint we have of their existence, is derived 



'■ A? reported by bystanders — Tve djtl not observe Ji . 



