t Hi 3 
VI, On a gaseous Compound of carbonic Oxide and Chlorine . By 
John Davy, Esq. Communicated by Sir Humphry Davy, Knt. 
LL. D. Sec . R. S. 
Read February 6, 1812. 
Since the influence cf electricity and solar light, as chemical 
agents, are analogous in many respects, and as the former 
produces no change in a mixture of carbonic oxide and chlo- 
rine, it was natural to infer the same respecting the latter. 
M.M. Gay Lussac and Thenard assert that this is the case; 
they say that they have exposed a mixture of carbonic oxide 
and chlorine, under all circumstances, to light, without ob- 
serving any alteration to take place :* Mr. Murray has made 
a similar statement.^ 
Having been led to repeat this experiment, from some ob- 
jections made by the last mentioned gentleman to the theory 
of my brother. Sir Humphry Davy, concerning chlorine, I 
was surprised at witnessing a different result. 
The mixture exposed, consisted of about equal volumes of 
chlorine and carbonic oxide ; the gasses had been previously 
dried over mercury by the action of fused muriate of lime, 
and the exhausted glass globe into which they were intro- 
duced from a receiver with suitable stopcocks, was carefully 
dried. After exposure for about a quarter of an hour to bright 
* Recherches Physico=Chimiques, Tom. II. p. 150. 
■§• Nicholson’s journal, Vol. XXX. p. 227. 
