on corrosive sublimate. 361 
formed in the same way by the action of muriatic acid or its 
gas. 
In a paper published in the Philosophical Transactions for 
1812, I have noticed the affinity of muriatic acid for corrosive 
sublimate. Muriatic acid of specific gravity 1.158, at 74,°, 
dissolves, I find, twice its weight of corrosive sublimate. This 
solution may be considered as composed of 11 proportions of 
water, 1 muriatic acid,* and 1 salt. In the act of forming, heat 
is evolved. At 74 0 this solution is of specific gravity 2.4,12. 
When its temperature is lowered a few degrees, it suddenly 
becomes solid, and forms a mass of delicate needle crystals, 
which rapidly melt, when the containing vessel is held in the 
warm hand. 
It is commonly stated in systematic works, that corrosive 
sublimate is soluble in the sulphuric and nitric acids, as well 
as in the muriatic acid. From the experiments which I have 
lately rnado, this does not appear to be the case. One-tenth 
of a grain of corrosive sublimate was added to 50 grains of 
nitric acid of specific gravity 1.45; kept some time at the 
temperature 90°, it did not diminish in bulk, nor did it appear 
to dissolve even at the boiling point of the acid, nor did the 
acid appear turbid on cooling, nor were any crystals deposited. 
A similar experiment was made with the same quantity of 
sublimate and 63 grains of concentrated sulphuric acid: at 
9 o° the sublimate did not dissolve ; and on the application of 
heat, fumes appeared, the salt rose through the acid, and a 
delicate crust of it was formed in the cool part of the vessel. 
The experiments which I have made, and which I shall 
immediately relate, tend to corroborate an opinion long ago 
* New System of Chem. Phil, by John Dalton, vol. ii. p. 295. 
3 A 
MDCCCXXII. 
