194 -Mfci Henry's Account of Experiments 



at the distance of about half an inch ; and, by properly disposing 

 the apparatus, electrical shocks might be passed, through any 

 gas or mixture of gases, with the contact only of glass and 

 platina. 



Exper. 7. In this tube I electrified the muriatic acid gas, and 

 then admitted to it an infusion of litmus. The sudden destruc- 

 tion of its colour evinced the formation of oxygenated muriatic 

 acid. Not the smallest deposit appeared on the tube. 



Experiments 8 and 9. The same phaenomenon took place, 

 when an infusion of litmus was brought into contact with a 

 mixture of common air and muriatic acid, and of oxygenous gas 

 and muriatic acid, after electrization in this instrument; oxyge- 

 nated muriatic acid being produced in both cases. 



The above facts prove, that the combination of oxygen with 

 muriatic acid, in these experiments, is not occasioned by a pre- 

 disposing affinity in the mercury to combine with oxygenated 

 muriatic acid ; but that the electric fluid serves actually as an 

 intermedium, in combining the muriatic acid with oxygen. 



From the relation of these experiments it appears, that not 

 the smallest progress had been made by them, towards the de- 

 composition of the muriatic acid. I resolved, therefore, to 

 attempt its analysis, in a similar manner, with the aid of com- 

 bustible gases. 



SECTION II. 



Effects of electrifying the Muriatic Acid Gas with inflammable 



Substances. 



In a memoir read before the Royal Society, and inserted in 

 their Transactions for 1797, I nave snewn > tnat wnen electrical 



