ON MURIATIC ACID GAS, &C. 291 



the experiment. There is a production of water in every form 

 of it ; and there exists no just argument whence it can be in- 

 ferred, that the quantity is less than what ought to be ob- 

 tained. On the opposite doctrine, none whatever should ap- 

 pear. 



To effect the more perfect separation of the water from the 

 muriate of ammonia, I had performed the additional experi- 

 ment of passing the salt formed from the combination of the 

 two gases, in vapour through ignited charcoal, on the principle 

 that by the interposition of the charcoal, the transmission of 

 the vapour would be impeded, and it would be exposed to a 

 more extensive surface, at which a high temperature would 

 operate, while some effect might also be obtained from the af- 

 finities exerted by the carbonaceous matter. To remove any 

 ambiguity from the effect of the charcoal, it was previously ex- 

 posed in an iron tube to a very intense heat, until all produc- 

 tion of elastic fluid had ceased ; and removed, while still warm, 

 into a tube of Wedgwood's porcelain, containing the muriate 

 of ammonia, which was then placed across a furnace, so as to 

 be raised to a red heat. As soon as the vapour of the salt 

 passed through the ignited charcoal, gas was disengaged, which 

 was conveyed by a curved glass tube adapted to the porcelain 

 one, and received in a jar over quicksilver. Moisture was at 

 the same time pretty copiously deposited, condensing both in 

 the glass-tube in globules, and being brought in vapour with 

 the gas which it rendered opaque, and condensing on the sur- 

 face of the quicksilver within the jars. The elastic fluid con- 

 sisted of carburetted hydrogen, and carbonic acid, products 

 evidently of the decomposition by the ignited charcoal of a 

 portion of the liberated water. In this experiment, then, the 

 result was still more satisfactory than in the other. That no 

 ambiguity arose from any effect of the charcoal in affording 



Oo2 water, 



