Dr. Beck on the Chlorides of Soda, Lime, fyc. 257 



3d. By passing chlorine into a solution of sulphate of soda ; 

 and that too in the case of the carbonate without the disen- 

 gagement of a particle of carbonic acid, and in that of the 

 sulphate without the separation of a drop of sulphuric acid. 

 Now as these substances remain entire in the solution, if the 

 properties of bleaching and disinfecting which appear to 

 characterize the compounds under review, depend upon 

 definite or chemical combinations of chlorine with the sub- 

 stances held in solution, — each of the above must be distinct 

 chemical combinations, though possessing similar proper- 

 ties ; — and it is probable that a new chemical compound 

 would be formed every time chlorine is transmitted, through 

 a different saline solution, and that too without having ef- 

 fected the least decomposition. This absurdity may be 

 avoided by referring these properties to a cause which exists 

 in each, and which is adequate to the explanation of all the 

 phenomena, viz. — the absorption of chlorine by the water in 

 each of these solutions. 



I am now prepared to notice some seeming objections to 

 this view of the subject. 



It is asserted by Mr. Phillips that the chloride of soda, as 

 he terms it, retains its bleaching property to a considerable 

 extent after evaporation to dryness. But this does not form 

 an objection to the view which I have taken, unless he means 

 to apply the term dryness in an absolute sense. This, how- 

 ever, cannot be the meaning of the author, for I am satisfied 

 that a temperature sufficiently elevated to drive off all the 

 water, will at the same time expel the whole of the chlorine ; 

 except, indeed, so much as is contained in the stable com- 

 pounds, chloride of sodium and chlorate of soda. This total 

 discharge of chlorine, as we shall hereafter show, is effected 

 by mere exposure to the air, or more speedily, by the agency 

 of a stream of carbonic acid, and it would be strange if the 

 application of heat necessary to drive off all the water should 

 not produce the same effect. Yet we should not be surpris- 

 ed , if the evaporation was carefully conducted, that the resi- 

 duum, when apparently dry, should still retain a small quan- 

 tity of water, and that this last, holding in solution a portion 

 of chlorine, should exert feeble bleaching and disinfecting 

 powers. 



It is stated by Mr. Faraday, that a portion of Labarraque's 

 liquor, prepared by passing chlorine through solution of car- 

 bonate of soda, being boiled, gave out no chlorine ; " it seem- 



Vol. XIV.— No. 2. 7 



