igS Mr. Cheney ix‘s Observations and Experiments 
■the alkali should be in a free state. If it be combined with an 
acid weaker than hyper oxygenized muriatic acid, the original 
acid will be expelled ; and muriate and hyperoxygenized muriate 
will be formed, as if the alkali had been free. 
As a further proof, that the change in the distribution of 
oxygenized muriate of potash takes place at the moment o* 
contact of the acid and the alkali, and consequently long before 
the crystallization, I mention the following experiments. 
I precipitated, by nitrate of silver, 400 grains of the entire 
liquor, previously to its being evaporated; and obtained 71 grains 
of muriate of silver. 
I evaporated to dryness, 400 grains of the same liquor, redis- 
solved the residuum, and, by dropping in nitrate of silver, ob- 
tained 70 grains of muriate. The difference of one grain, in 
these experiments, does not amount to .0,2 of a gram of mu- 
riate of silver ; and ought not to be regarded. 
From these experiments, it is past all doubt, that the original 
entire liquor did not contain oxygenized muriate of potash. 
For, if such a combination had existed in it, I should have ob- 
tained a smaller portion of muriate of silver in the first than in 
the second case, on account of the total separation into muriate 
and hyperoxygenized muriate having not yet taken place. 
We are not however to conclude, from these experiments, 
that there are no such things as oxygenized muriates. Although 
they cannot be exhibited in a palpable state, it is easy to 
demonstrate that they do really exist. 1 shall prove, m the 
proper place, that hyperoxygenized muriate of ammonia is not 
an incompatible combination; and must, for the present, assume 
the datum, in order that I may demonstrate the necessary 
