ON CHLORIDE OP SODA. 
227 
of oxygen,) and indeed the theory generally adopted at the 
present day, will be seen to be totally untenable. 
M. Millon considers it to be composed of bicarbonate of 
soda, and oxychloride of sodium. Thus : one atom of chlo- 
rine, and two atoms of carbonate of soda, react on each 
other. One atom of carbonate of soda loses its carbonic 
acid, which uniting with the other atom of carbonate of 
soda forms one atom of bicarbonate of soda, whilst the atom 
of chlorine acting on the remaining atom of soda, form chlo- 
ride of soda or oxychloride of sodium, according to Dulong's 
theory of the salts. Namely, that the oxygen or electro- 
negative element of the base, joins with the electro-negative 
element added, which uniting with the metal of the base, 
form a compound analogous to an haloid salt, except that 
the electro-negative element is compound. This oxy- 
chloride of sodium he considers analogous to the peroxide 
of sodium in which one atom of oxygen is replaced by an 
atom of chlorine. 
By means of some researches which I have recently 
made, and which I shall now submit, I have proved, I trust, 
that this latter theory is a correct one. 
That the chlorinated solution contains a carbonate is evi- 
dent by its giving a white turbidity on the addition of lime 
water. That this is the bicarbonate may be known by its 
giving no precipitate with solution of sulphate of magnesia. 
Now, if to the chlorinated solution we add a solution of 
alum (the double sulphate of alumina and potash) the 
alumina is instantly precipitated, without effervescence, 
proving that the chlorinated solution contained a salt of soda 
other than the bicarbonate, for it must be by it the alumina 
is replaced, accompanied, on the application of heat, by the 
evolution of a chlorinous gas. Whether this soda salt is a 
hypochlorite of soda, or a chloride of soda (oxy-chloride of 
sodium) involves the point at which MM. Millon and Ba- 
lard are at issue. The question of course can be solved by 
ascertaining the nature of the chlorinous gas evolved 
