THE BLEACHING COMPOUNDS OF CHLORINE. 293 
* Tt appears to me that these observations are sufficient to prove that 
chlorous acid acts upon organic bodies principally on account of the 
oxygen which it contains. ; 
Could not an oxidizing agent, very superior to nitric acid, give rise 
‘to some new compounds in acting upon several organic compounds ? 
It is natural to think so, and to suppose that a knowledge of chlorous 
acid may thus, in an indirect manner, contribute to the progress of or- 
ganic chemistry, by exciting fresh researches, which I propose hereafter 
to undertake, as soon as I have hopes of doing so with success. 
§ 4. Chlorous Acid Gas. 
I had repeatedly observed that the aqueous solution of chlorous acid, 
when exposed to the air, soon lost its tint, anda great part of its odour. 
This change of properties, which I satisfied myself was not derived either 
‘from the absorption of the oxygen or the moisture of the air, made me 
-think that chlorous acid was volatile, and that I should be able to ob- 
tain it in the gaseous state, and it was towards this end that I directed 
‘my researches. 
I first tried the action of heat on concentrated liquid chlorous acid. 
"At a temperature much below ebullition, I observed in fact that it dis- 
engaged a very small quantity of a yellow-coloured gas, which, passing 
‘through the mercury in small bubbles, was absorbed by it, leaving occa- 
‘sionally a residue of oxygen. As to the liquid, even after being some 
time exposed to a temperature near ebullition, it retained the property 
-of acting on combustible bodies with the same activity as at first. I 
‘presumed from this that chlorous acid had great affinity for water, and 
‘that by the action upon liquid chlorous acid of a substance having great 
-affinity for this water, I should obtain the acid in the state of gas. 
I first attempted this with sulphuric acid, and I succeeded in obtain- 
“ing a gaseous body. But this gas was of a very deep yellow colour, 
“and ‘its smell, instead of resembling that of liquid chlorous acid, was 
-more like deutoxide of chlorine. The water with which I attempted to 
‘ act upon it dissolved a certain quantity, and left as a residue a mixture 
-of much chlorine and very little oxygen: the solution did not resemble 
‘liquid chlorous acid; it was of a very deep yellow, and possessed the 
“properties of a solution of deutoxide. The sulphuric acid, therefore, 
while taking the water from the chlorous acid, had converted it into 
- oxygen, chlorine, and deutoxide. 
I suspected from this, that chlorous acid, like the nitric, chloric, bro- 
“mic, and other acids, could not exist without water; but before I pro- 
: ceeded on this idea, I thought I would try other bodies, which, although 
- greedy of water, like sulphuric acid, would not excite any such marked 
action. It being impossible to employ chloride of calcium, I had re- 
Vor. ].—Parr II. z 
