NATURE-GF THE BLEACHING COMPOUNDS OF CHLORINE. 281] 
’ It attacks the epidermis with great activity. A drop left in contact 
with the skin for half a minute destroys it, and more deeply than nitric 
acid does in the same space of time. The tint which it acquires is red- 
dish brown, and not yellow. 
Chlorous acid when slightly concentrated is extremely unstable, and 
decomposes partially even at common temperatures. During the great 
heat of summer it can only be preserved for a few days, except by 
keeping it inice. When more diluted and kept from the light it may, 
on the contrary, be preserved for a much longer time. During this 
decomposition it disengages an infinite number of small bubbles, which 
are merely chlorine gas, and at the same time a certain quantity of 
chloric acid is formed. Agitation, especially with angular bodies, 
hastens this decomposition; and when fragments of powdered glass 
are thrown into this acid, their contact with the liquor is followed by 
a well-marked effervescence. 
At a moderately high temperature, the decomposition is much more 
rapid. Yet it is only partial at 212°, for chlorous acid may be distilled 
at the usual pressure, and thus brought to a higher degree of concen- 
tration. 
A strong light produces similar decomposition. A few moments 
exposure to the solar rays are sufficient to convert it into chlorine and 
chloric acid. Sometimes also deutoxide of chlorine is formed. 
When an aqueous solution of chlorous acid is exposed to the influ- 
ence of the voltaic pile, an abundant disengagement of oxygen takes 
place at the positive pole. The portion of the liquid in the midst of 
which this disengagement is effected, does not appear to change its 
nature by absorbing a certain quantity of the gas. It does not deepen 
in colour, nor does its decolorizing property appear to diminish. Thus 
the action even of nascent oxygen does not seem to have the power of 
changing chlerous acid into chloric acid or deutoxide of chlorine. 
In this experiment no chlorine is disengaged at the positive pole, 
There is no doubt that chlorous acid and water are simultaneously de- 
composed, and that the hydrogen and chlorine, meeting in the nascent 
state, form hydrochloric acid. What tends to induce this opinion is, 
that at the end of a certain time the oxygen obtained is mixed with 
chlorine; a phenomenon which could not occur, except there be formed 
in the liquid a compound in which this body is electro-negative. 
Chlorine cannot exert any action on the aqueous solution of chlorous 
acid ; but itis different with bromine and iodine. Each of these bodies 
is susceptible of decomposing it, and of acidification at the expense of 
its oxygen. 
If a few drops of bromine be put in contact with a small quantity of 
ehlorous acid, a disengagement of chlorine is perceived on the surface 
of the drops of bromine. On exposing this liquid to the contact of the 
air for a few seconds, this latter compound is liberated, and free bromie 
