]^0 INQUIRIES RESPECTING MURVaTIC AC^D. 



alkaline and earthy matter, supposinj^ they existed in it 

 not fully combined with oxigen. That hidroi^en must have 

 separated in the experiment, it is not possible to doxtbt, 

 arid on evaporating the depoi>it on the !>ides of the globe, 

 which was in very minute quantity, and acted like concenr 

 trated muriatic acid, it left a perceptible saline ve&iduum*. 



ly. Farther inquiries respecting muriatic acid. 



Difference be- The experiments on muriatic acid, which 1 have already 

 tween muriatic 1-,^^ the honour of layi-jg before the Society, show, that the 

 acid and ox\ , • i , , , ■ 



muriatic acid, ideas which had bee4-j tonnerly entertained r<^'Sijecting the 



difference hetvveen the muriatic acid and the oximuriatic 

 acid are not correct. They prove, that u^uriatic. acid gas 

 is a compound of a substance, which as yet has never been 

 procured in an uncomuined slate, and from one third to one 

 fou' h of water, and that oximuriatic acid is composed of 

 the same substance, (tree from vv'ater) united to oxigen. 

 They likewise prove, that when bodies are oxidated in mu~ 

 riatic acid, gas, it is by a decomposition of the water con- 

 tained in that substance; and when they are oxidated in 

 muriatic acid, it is by combination with the oxigen in that 

 body, and in both cases there is always a union of the pe- 

 culiar unknown Substance, the dry muriatic acid, with the 

 oxidated body. 

 Strong andex- ^^ ^') known substances belonging to the class of acids, 

 tensive affiii- the dry muriatic acid is that which seems to possess the 

 tiesofmunatic ,' ' ' , , ' . • « i • ,• x, 



^cj(j^ strongest and most extensive powers ot combination. It 



unites with all acid matters, that have been experimented 

 upon, except carbonic acid; and with all oxides (including 

 water), and all inflammable substances that have been tried, 

 except those which appear to be elementary, carbonaceous 

 matter and the metals ; and should its basis ever be sepa- 

 rated in the pure form, it will probably be one of the most 

 powerful agents in chemistry. 

 ^^ot obtainable 1 have lately made several new attempts to procure un- 



♦ Charcoal, over whidh sulphur has been passed, as in the experi« 

 ments, page 465, as h^is been shown by Mr A. BerthoUet, contains sul- 

 phur, and this I find after being heated to whiteness; such charcoal is a 

 conductor of electricity, and does not differ ia its external properties 

 from common charcoal. 



combined 



