362 



Decomposition of Chlorine-water by Light [June 20, 



Most of the ternary operators which, in recent investigations have 

 had their importance established, do not involve first derivatives. 

 They are the results of replacing first derivatives by zeroes in opera- 

 tors such as above, or may be regarded as linear functions of different 

 operators. The transformation of the various annihilators of pure 

 and projective cyclicants is considered from the latter point of view. 



It is indicated, however, without much development that, if pre- 

 ferred, it is possible to consider the transformation of operators free 

 from first derivatives without use of operators in which those deriva- 

 tives occur. In illustration of the method it is established that, if 

 [;t, I*, v' j m, n, n'~] denote that part of {/x, v, v f \ m, n, n'} which is free 

 from first derivatives, 



( Vol ) i(1 - m) [-m, 1, 1 ; m , 0, 0], = (y 10 yoi) ul - m) l-™<, h 1 ; ™, 0, 0] y 



= (%%) i(1 - m) [-m, 1, 1; m, 0, 0], 



gives for different values of m a class of cyclically persistent opera- 

 tors. 



XIII. " On the Kate of Decomposition of Chlorine- water by 

 Light." By G. Gore, LL.D., F.R.S. Eeceived June 13, 

 1689. 



(Abstract.) 



In this research, the author has investigated by means of the 

 voltaic balance the kind and amount of chemical change, the rate at 

 which decomposition proceeds, and the chemical composition of the 

 products formed at all stages of decomposition of chlorine-water, 

 when exposed to daylight and sunlight in colourless glass vessels. 



The chlorine-water, by exposure to diffused daylight, was decom- 

 posed with moderate uniformity, but at a gradually diminishing rate, 

 as shown by the losses of voltaic energy, until no further loss of such 

 energy occurred ; the liquid then consisted of an aqueous solution of 

 hydrochloric acid, hypochlorous acid, and chloric acid. By further 

 exposure of the liquid to daylight and sunlight during several weeks, 

 peroxide of hydrogen was formed ; and the amount of hydrochloric 

 acid and of voltaic energy very slowly increased until that of the 

 latter became about equal to that of dilute hydrochloric acid of equiva- 

 lent strength to the whole of the chlorine present ; all the other 

 chief properties of the final liquid agreed with those of a mixture of 

 dilute hydrochloric acid and peroxide of hydrogen. Still further 

 exposure to strong sunlight caused no further change in chemical 

 composition, amount of voltaic energy, or other property of the 

 liquid. 



