32 JJEW ACID GAS» 



gas ; but witti the last, the fusible protoxide being used, 

 butter of antimony is produced, and carbonic oxide libe- 

 rated, and an infusible peroxide formed, a proof, if any wag 

 required, of the formation of carbonic acid in the preceding 

 instance being owing to the decomposition of the oxide of 

 zinc, and not of the oximuriatic gas. 



It is composed These are some of the principal circumstances 1 have dis- 

 of two acidiiy- , • i > • i ■ , 



ine principles <^o^'ered respectmg this new gas; a gas, which, as it red- 



united to one dens litmus and expels acids from ammonia in consequence 

 of superior attraction, has every claim to be considered as 

 a peculiar acid singularly composed of two acidifying prin» 

 ciples united to one inflammable base. 



After the preceding statement of facts, Mr, Murray, I 

 should conceive, will be induced to renounce his conclusion, 

 **that the production of carbonic acid in his experiment 

 was established beyond the possibility of doubt;" and 

 admit, that what he considered as carbonic acid was ac« 

 tually the new gas just described; and I should likewise 

 imagine, that this gentleman in future will be more cau- 

 tious in his assertions, and criticisms on the labours of 

 others. Let the intelligent candid reader judge of the pro- 

 priety of the following observation. Mr. Murray says, 

 having previously stated, that he had found carbonic acid 

 in all his experiments, " that the Messrs. Davys did not 

 obtain it in theirs, because they did not look for it with 

 sufficient care, or were not sufficiently aware of the falla- 

 cies, by which its production might be concealed," His 

 considering the new gas as carbonic acid is another instance 

 of the evil tendency of attachment to hypothesis. How just 

 19 the remark of Lord Bacon ! quod mavult homo esse ve- 

 rum, id facile credit. 



No carbonic In a former communication I have observed, that nocar- 



icid toiraed bo^ic acid appeared to be formed, when dry carbul-etted 

 romthecom- ... . 



usiionofdty hidrogen and oximuriatic gas are inflamed by the electric 

 ,'bur tiedhi gpa,.|j^ assigning as a reason for this belief, the precipitation 

 imuriatic "of charcoal. I tried both olefiant gas and carjburetted 

 ■^' ' hidrogen procured by the decomposition of acetate of pot- 



ash by heat. Mr. Murray says, that he has repeated the 

 experiment, and that in this too I was deceived. Mr. Mur- 

 ray employed the gas produced by heat from moistened 



charcoal. 



