compound of iodine and oxygene. 205 
and to produce the substance from 40 grains of iodine, 100 
grains of the hyperoxymuriate should be used, and four 
times the quantity of solution of muriatic acid of specific gra- 
vity about 1.105; a very small spirit lamp should be em- 
ployed to generate the gas ; and to prevent explosions, 
the heat should be applied with great care, and only to the 
bottom of the tube. 
The compound of oxygene and iodine when entirely freed 
by heat from the compound of oxygene and chlorine, appears 
as a white semi-transparent solid ; it has no smell, but a strong 
astringent sour taste. Its specific gravity is considerable, for 
it rapidly sinks in sulphuric acid. When heated strongly, 
it decomposes, undergoing fusion at the moment, and is en- 
tirely converted into gaseous matter and iodine, leaving no 
residuum whatever. 
It requires for its entire decomposition, a heat which 
is rather below the boiling point of olive oil, and there 
seems to be little or no increase of temperature in the 
process. 
Its nature is proved both by analysis and synthesis, for 
when euchlorine acts upon iodine, the volatile substance pro- 
duced, has all the characters of the body produced by the 
immediate action of chlorine on iodine ; and when the com- 
pound I am describing is decomposed in a pneumatic appa- 
ratus, the gas formed is found to be pure oxygene, and the 
solid sublimate produced, is pure iodine. 
I endeavoured to determine the proportions of the elements 
in the compound, by decomposing it in glass tubes carefully 
weighed, and ascertaining the loss of weight of the tube, and 
the volume of oxygene evolved. I have used very small 
quantities of the substance, but as my balance is delicate, I 
