330 ON THE MURIATIC ACID 1n ITS BIFFERENT STATES. 



thoHgh a little oximuriatic acid is generated ; yet oxigen is 

 the chief gaseous product, and a muriate of potash not de- 

 composable is produced. 



The distillation of the orange coloured fluid, produced 

 liy dissolving hypcroximuriate of potash in sulphuric acid, 

 affords only oxigen in great excess, and oximusiatic acid. 

 J'acts mifayaur- When solutions of muriates, or muriatic acid, are elec- 

 pStion of S^" ^'"'^'''^ '" the voltaic circuit, oximuriatic acid is cTolred at 

 (existence. *he positive surface, and hidrogen at the negative surface. 



"When a solution of oximuriatic acid in water is electrized, 

 oximuriatic acid and oxigen appear* at the positive surface, 

 and hidrogen at the negative surface; facts which are cer- 

 tainly unfavourable to the idea of the existence of hyper. 

 oxigenised muriatic acid, whether it be imagined a com- 

 pound of oximuriatic acid with oxigen, or" the basis of 

 oximuriatic acid. 

 Hyperoximii- If the facts respecting the hyperoximuriatc of potash, 

 proLwy^'con-^ indeed, be closely reasoned upon, it must be regarded as 

 rains potassium ""t^jfig more than as a triple compound of oximuriatic 

 th^firptSsh. ^"^' potassium, and oxigen. We have no right to assume 

 the existence of any peculiar acid in it, or of a consider- 

 able portion of combined water ; and it is perhaps more 

 conformable to the analogy of chemistry, to suppose tht 

 large quantity of oxigen combined wiiii the potassium; 

 which we know has an intense affinity for oxigen, And 

 ■which, from some experiments, I am inclined to believe, is 

 capable of combining directly with moro oxigen than exists 

 in potash; than with the oximuriatic acid, which, as far a^ 

 is known, has no affinity for that substance. 

 Decomposition It is generally supposed, that a mixture of oximuriatic 

 Haf/ofpoiSh' ^^"^ and hyperoximuriatic acid is disengaged, when hj.-per- 

 by muriatic oximuriatc of potash is decomposed by common muriatic 

 ^"^- acid + ; but I am satisfied from several trials, that the gas 



procured 

 * The quantity of oximuriatic acid in the aqueous solution is s© 

 small, that the principal products must be referred to. the decom- 

 position of water. Ihis happens in other instances; ; the water 

 only is decomposed in dilute solutions of nitric and sulphuric acids, 

 t If hvperoximuriate of potash be decomposed by nitric or sulr, 

 phurlc aeid, it affords oximuriatic acid and oxigeiv ' If itbe acted 



upon 



