202 Mr. J. Davy’s Account of some Experiments on the 
7. On the Action of muriatic Acid on some Combinations of 
Chlorine and Metals. 
Sir Humphry Davy lias pointed out in a great variety of 
instances, the existence of an analogy between chlorine and 
oxygene. He has shewn that the former, united with certain 
inflammables, constitutes, like the latter, acid compounds ; and 
combined with metals, as it has already been observed, sub- 
stances similar in many respects to metallic oxides. 
I have kept this analogy in view in my inquiries, and di- 
rected by it in my experiments, I have obtained some results 
which appear to me to coincide with it. 
Thus having been led to try the action of muriatic acid on 
different combinations of the metals and chlorine, I have found 
many of them capable of uniting with this acid, and of form- 
ing compounds not dissimilar to some of those consisting of 
acids and metallic oxides. 
Corrosive sublimate, stannane, cuprane, and the combina- 
tions of chlorine with antimony, zinc, lead, and silver are all 
soluble in different degrees in muriatic acid. 
Corrosive sublimate, which is but sparingly soluble in water, 
and still more sparingly in the sulphuric and nitric acids, is, I 
have ascertained, very readily soluble in muriatic acid. 1 cubic 
inch of the common strong acid takes up about 150 grains of 
this substance, and when gently heated, a quantity far more 
considerable, about 1000 grains. The compound thus formed 
solidifies on cooling into a crystalline fibrous mass of a pearly 
and brilliant lustre. It is decomposed by heat, the acid being 
first expelled, and when exposed to the atmosphere, it effio- 
