454 
Mr. Faraday on new compounds 
producing 4 of carbonic acid gas, and had occupied the other 
2 by 4 of hydrogen to form water. Upon which view, 
4 volumes or proportionals of hydrogen = 4, are combined 
with 4 proportionals of carbon = 24, to form one volume of 
the vapour, the specific gravity of which would therefore be 
28. Now this is but little removed from the actual specific 
gravity obtained by the preceding experiments ; and know- 
ing that this vapour must contain small portions of other 
substances in solution, there appears no reason to doubt that, 
if obtained pure, it would be found thus constituted. 
As the proportions of the elements in this vapour appear 
to be the same as in olefiant gas, it became interesting to 
ascertain whether chlorine had the same action upon it as on 
the latter body. Chlorine and the vapour were therefore 
mixed in an exhausted retort : rapid combination took place, 
much heat was evolved, and a liquor produced resembling 
hydro-chloride of carbon, or the substance obtained by the 
same process from olefiant gas. It was transparent, colour- 
less, and heavier than water. It had the same sweet taste, 
but accompanied by an after aromatic bitterness, very per- 
sistent. Further, it was composed of nearly equal volumes 
of the vapour and chlorine : it could not therefore be the 
same as the hydro-chloride of carbon from olefiant gas, 
since it contained twice as much carbon and hydrogen. It 
was therefore treated with excess of chlorine in sun-light : 
action slowly took place, more chlorine combined with the 
substance, muriatic acid was formed, and ultimately a fluid 
tenacious triple compound of chlorine, carbon, and hydrogen 
was obtained ; but no chloride of carbon. This is a remark- 
able circumstance, and assists in showing, that though the 
