XVI. Experiments on Muriatic Acid Gas, with Observations on 

 its Chemical Constitution, and on some other Subjects of 

 Chemical Theory. By John Murray, M. D. F. R. S^E. 



(Read 15th Dec. 1817, and 12th Jan. 1818.J 



PART I. 



IOome years ago I proposed, as decisive of the question which 

 has been the subject of controversy on the nature of Oxymu- 

 riatic and Muriatic Acids, the experiment of procuring water 

 from muriate of ammonia, formed by the combination of dry 

 ammoniacal and muriatic acid gases. Muriatic acid gas be- 

 ing the sole product of the mutual action of oxymuriatic gas 

 and hydrogen, it follows, that if oxymuriatic gas contain oxy- 

 gen, muriatic acid gas must contain combined water ; while, if 

 the former be a simple body, the latter must be the real acid, 

 free from water. When muriatic acid gas is submitted to the 

 action of substances which combine with acids, water is obtain- 

 ed ; but though the most simple and direct conclusion from 

 this is,. that the Water is deposited from the muriatic acid gas, 

 the result may be accounted for on the opposite doctrine, by 



the 



