ON THE MUUIATIC ACIS IN ITS DIFFERENT STATES. 335 



One of the greatest problems in economicaJ chemistry is Deeomposltio* 

 the decomposition of the muriates of soda and potash. The^^ ^JjJ^^J^"^^*"' 

 solution of this problem will, perhaps, be facilitated by soda, 

 these new views. The affmity of potassium and sodium 

 for oximufiatic acid is very strong; but so likewise is 

 their attractioa for oxigen, and the ailinity of their oxides 

 for water. The affinities of oximuriatic acid gas for hidro- 

 gen, and of mariatic acid gas for water, arc likewise of 

 a powerful kind. Water, therefore, should be present 

 la ait cases, when it is intended to attempt to produce 

 alkali- It is eot difficult after these views to explain the 

 decompositioti of common salt by aluminous or silicious 

 substaaees, which, as it has beea long known, act only 

 ■when they contain water. In these cases the sodiusa may 

 be conceived t^ combine with the oxigen of the water and. 

 with the earth, to form a vitreous componnd ; and the oxi- 

 snuriatic acid to nnite with the hidrogea of the water, form- 

 ing muriatic acid gas. 



It is also easy, accordiag to these new ideas, t® explain and of saltt^y 

 the decomposition of salt by ipoistened litharge, the theory '^^'^''^^'^^ '^^ 

 of which has so much perplexed the most acute chemists. 

 It may be conceived to be an instance of compound afnnity : 

 the oximuriatic acid is attracted by the lead, and the so- 

 dium combiaes with the oxigen of the litharge and with 

 water to form hydrat of soda, which gradually attracts 

 carbonic acid from the air. 



As iroa has a strong affinity for oximuriatic acid, I at- Salt decompos- 

 teropted to procure soda by passing steam over a mixture of ^1^^^^' passing 

 iron filings aud muriate of soda intensely heated : and in heated mixtur? 

 this way I succeeded in decomposing some of the salt : ^[^ ^^^* '^'^ '^*^ 

 hidrogen came over; a little hidrate of sodawas formed ; 

 and muriate of iron was produced. 



It does not seem improbable, supposing the views that Potassium ami 

 have been developed accurate, that, by complex affinities, j°oci™ed"froin* 

 even potassium and sodium in their metallic form may be^heir oximuria- 

 procured from their oximuriatic combinations. For this "^ '^'""P°'^" ?• 

 purpose the oximuriatic acid should be attracted by one sub- 

 stance, and the alkaline metals by another ; and such 

 bodies should fee selected fpr the experiiacnt^ as would 



produce 



