49 
of chlorine and carbon , &c. 
heat being at the same time evolved. On opening the retort, 
there was no absorption, but it was found full of muriatic acid 
gas. This was expelled, and more chlorine introduced, and 
the whole again exposed to sun light : the colour again 
disappeared, and a few moist crystals were formed round the 
edge of the fluid. Chlorine being a third time introduced, 
and treated as before, it still removed more hydrogen ; and 
now a sublimate of crystals lined the retort. Proceeding in 
this way until the chlorine exerted no farther action, the fluid 
entirely disappeared, and the results were, the dry crystalline 
substance, and muriatic acid gas. 
A portion of olefiant gas was then mixed in a retort with 
eight or nine times its bulk of chlorine, and exposed to sun 
light. At first the fluid formed ; but this instantly disap - 
peared ; the retort became lined with crystals, and the colour 
of the chlorine very much diminished. 
On examining these crystals, I found they were the com- 
pound I was in search of ; but before I give the proofs of 
their nature, I will describe the process by which this chloride 
of carbon can be obtained pure. 
Perchloride of carbon. 
A glass vessel was made in the form of an alembic head, 
but without the beak ; the neck was considerably contracted, 
and had a brass cap with a stop-cock cemented on ; at the 
top was a small aperture, into which a ground stopper fitted 
air tight. The capacity of the vessel was about 200 cubic 
inches. Being exhausted by the air-pump, it was nearly 
filled with chlorine ; and being then placed over olefiant gas, 
and as much as could enter having passed in, the stop-cocks 
mdcccxxi. H 
