208 ON AQUA REGIA AND HYPOSULPHURIC ACID. 
two agents jointly, the affinity of the chlorine for the hydro- 
gen of the hydrochloric acid be reduced, and that the af- 
finity of the same metalloid for the hydrogen of the water 
be counterbalanced, to augment the dishydrating power of 
nitric acid. If a double affinity predominated in this re- 
action (7,) these phenomena would not be perceived, the 
chlorine ivould not be disengaged, or enter into a combi- 
nation, the moment of its formation, to combine with the 
hyponitric acid. 
In making these remarks, we have not lost sight of the 
various circumstances in which a chemical action com- 
mences, the moment the affinities by which it was called 
forth are annihilated. We even have premised the hypo- 
thesis by which hyponitric acid is considered as a radical. 
We attempted to support the hypothesis, by allowing hy- 
drochloric acid gas to act upon concentrated nitric acid, at 
a low temperature, protecting it at the same time against 
the influence of water. Instead, however, of obtaining the 
combination (N 2 4 + CI 2 ,) we perceived, and demonstrated, 
that these acids were reduced to water, chlorine, and nitrous 
acid (11, 12, 14.) These are the products furnished by an 
active aqua regia. 
The causes by which these are produced may be, 1st, 
the striving of the chlorine to pass into the gaseous state, 
or to combine with metals ; 2d, the instability of the nitric 
acid and its dishydrating power; 3d, the tendency of nitric 
acid for becoming volatilised or forming combinations.* 
*M. Baudrimont says that, by putting together hydrochloric acid of 
commerce and nitric acid of 86° C, he obtained a gas of a peculiar 
nature. This gas, which he considers as the active principle of aqua 
regia ; would be that which corresponds to nitric acid, and be repre- 
sented by the formula N 2 3 C 2 . I know not whether M. Baudrimont, 
in asserting this, was not influenced by the hypothesis of Mr. E. Davy, 
according to which the product obtained by the action of nitric acid on 
fused sea-salt, would be the active principle of aqua regia. 
Certain it is, that if the chloronitric acid exists, it must be possessed 
of peculiar properties, among others — to yield nitrous acid to sulphuric 
