NATURE OF THE BLEACHING COMPOUNDS OF CHLORINE. 9277 
acid, which is in this case set at liberty, exerts the same re-action on 
the chloride of silver which it produces on the other chlorides, and 
that the presence of a small excess of nitric acid much accelerates this 
decomposition. 
It will be observed, then, that in order to have a chance of success 
in this operation, it is requisite to make use of a decolorizing chloride 
which is perfectly neutral. It is impossible to prove that it is in this 
state by means of coloured tests, for their tint is not merely modified 
but completely destroyed by the chlorides. It is preferable to prepare 
it by adding nitric acid drop by drop, and until the precipitate formed 
by the chloride in the solution of silver ceases to have the brown tint 
which the oxide of silver communicates to it when they are mixed. 
When this perfect neutralization is attained, and not exceeded, the 
metallic chloride and the alkaline chlorite are decomposed, chloride of 
silver is deposited, and the liquid possesses decolorizing power in a very 
high degree, which is undoubtedly due to the chlorite of silver remain- 
ing in the liquor. 
But the substance which it contains is extremely easy of decomposi- 
tion ; it was impossible to obtain the liquid clear even by filtration ; it 
becomes turbid, precipitates, and deposits much chloride of silver. The 
liquor gradually ceases to be decolorizing, and it then contains chlorate 
of silver. Thus the attempts which I made to separate chlorous acid 
have almost always been fruitless, and therefore it was necessary to make 
-fresh ones. 
According to what I have stated as to the action of the salts of silver 
on the decolorizing compounds of chlorine, it appears to me that it 
must be admitted that the oxide of this metal can form with chlorine 
compounds similar to those which it yields with the alkalis, though they 
are less permanent. It seemed to me therefore proper, as I had so 
little success in treating the alkaline chlorides with the salts of silver, 
to try the action of oxide of silver upon chlorine itself. 
Chemists are generally of opinion that, when chlorine acts upon the 
salts of silver, it converts them into chlorate and chloride. Vauquelin 
mentions having observed the same phenomena in treating chlorine 
with free oxide of silver simply diffused in water. But I had every 
reason to think, according to the facts above stated, that these two 
compounds were formed only by the decomposition of a chlorite. 
Some pure oxide of silver was therefore suspended in distilled water, 
_ and agitated with chlorine. This was absorbed. The portion of oxide 
_ which was in contact with the chlorine formed a white compound, and 
the other portion became of a very deep black colour. I ascertained 
that the first was chloride of silver; as to the second, it possessed all 
_ the characters of peroxide of silver. During this re-action heat was 
_ evolved, but I did not perceive any disengagement of oxygen. “This 
liquid immediately after filtration was limpid and strongly decolorizing, 
Vou. I—Parrt II. U 
