C 188 3 



X. Account of a Series of Experiments, undertaken with the View 

 of decomposing the Muriatic Acid. By Mr. William Henry. 

 Communicated by the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. 

 P. R. S. 



Read February 27, 1800. 



IVLodern chemistry, notwithstanding its rapid advancement 

 during the few last years, still presents to its cultivators several 

 interesting objects, both of analytic and synthetic inquiry. 

 Among the former, the decomposition of the muriatic and of 

 certain other acids, holds a distinguished place ; for our curio- 

 sity respecting the nature of these bodies, is strongly excited, 

 by the influence which the discovery would have on the general 

 doctrines of chemical science, as well as on the explanation of 

 individual facts. The theory of the formation of acids, for ex- 

 ample, one of the most important parts of the new system of 

 chemistry, must be regarded as incomplete, and liable to sub- 

 version, till the individual acids now alluded to have been 

 resolved into their constituent principles. To the best of my 

 knowledge, however, we are not in possession of a single fact 

 that gives the smallest insight into the constitution of the 

 muriatic acid ; and the attempts to effect its analysis, can only 

 therefore be directed by the analogy of the decomposition of 

 other bodies, which, from similarity of character, are arranged 

 in the same class. 



One of the first objects, in the analysis of a compound body, 



