upon oxygenized and hyper oxygenized muriatic Acid , See. 165 
tion of nitro-muriatic acid upon platina, has been observed by 
Mr. Davy, in his Researches .* Bat, as hyperoxygenized muriatic 
acid was not known at that time, he could not say the real 
nature of that gas. Had Mr. D vvy carried i is ingenious expe- 
riments a little farther, we should htve been much earlier 
acquainted with the last de o ree of oxygenizement of muriatic 
acid. 
Mr. Berthollet terminates his Paper upon hyperoxygenized 
muriate of potash, by s yin r, that he will consider muriatic 
acid as the radical ; oxygenized muriatic acid, as corresponding 
with sulphureous and nitrous acid ; and the acid which he 
conjectured to exi t in this Suit, as corresponding with sulphuric 
and nitric acid. I shall now conclude, by stating the arguments 
in favour of each denomination, and the analogies upon which 
they are founded. 
Muriatic acid is for us a simple body; but it has acid pro- 
perties of the strongest kind ; therefore, from analogy, we 
suppose it to contain oxygen. But may not this be too hasty 
a conclusion ? Are we not very doubtful concerning the ex- 
istence of oxygen in prussic acid ? And are we not, on the 
contrary, certain that sulphurated hydrogen, which possesses 
many of the characteristics of acids, does not contain any ? Of 
the oxygenizement of fluoric and boracic acids, we have no proof: 
but then we cannot affirm that any one of these acids exists in 
three states of combination with oxygen; and the muriatic is 
the only radical of which we admit this fact. We must not, 
however, pretend to limit the number or degrees of combi- 
nations between combustible bodies and oxygen ; but we can 
. 1 
* Dr. P riestley, also, mentions a peculiar gas, produced by distilling a solution of. 
gold in aqua regia . 
