on the Muriatic and Oxy muriatic Acids . 245 
cury ? In this case, it was suggested to me by Mr. Daltok, 
who favoured me with his presence at most of the experi- 
ments, that the evolved hydrogen might possibly in some 
way prevent the effect from being carried beyond a certain 
amount. Availing myself of this hint, I mixed 30 measures 
of hydrogen gas with 400 of muriatic acid gas in its ordinary 
state, and passed 900 discharges through the mixture. It soon 
became evident that the addition of the hydrogen had pro- 
duced an important difference in the results of the experi- 
ment ; for the surface of the mercury, over which the gas 
rested, was untarnished after some hundred explosions, and 
was scarcely changed at the close of the process. When the 
residuary gas, the volume of which remained unaltered, was 
analyzed, it was found to contain the same quantity of muria- 
tic gas as at the outset, and neither more nor less hydrogen. 
To explain the event of this modification of the experiment, 
on the old theory, we may suppose that by the action of elec- 
tricity a particle of water is decomposed, and that the atom of 
oxygen, forcibly repelled from that of hydrogen with which 
it was associated, finds another atom of hydrogen uninfluenced 
by the electric fluid, and within the sphere of its attraction. 
With this it unites, and recomposes water. On the theory of 
Sir H. Davy, the same series of decompositions and recombi- 
nations may be assumed to take place between the oxymuriatic 
acid and hydrogen.* 
* I am aware that there is an apparent inconsistency in supposing changes of 
precisely an opposite kind to be effected by the same means. But instances are not 
wanting, in which the very same elements are brought into combination by electric 
discharges, and are again disunited by the same agency. As examples, it maybe 
sufficient at present to state, that nitrous acid and nitrous gas are generated by the 
action of the electric spark on mixtures of oxygen and nitrogen gases ; and that, by 
