BLEACHING COMPOUNDS OF CHLORINE. 295 
Chloric acid may be compared to the hypophosphoric and 
hyposulphuric acids. It should be called hypochloric acid, 
reserving that of chloric acid, (conformably to the rules of the 
nomenclature,) to the most highly oxygenized, and, at the 
same time, most stable of these compounds of chlorine, now im- 
properly called perchloric acid. In fact, as hyposulphuric 
acid is decomposed into sulphurous and sulphuric acid, so 
chloric acid, by heat or even by keeping a long time at the 
ordinary temperature, is converted into chlorous and perchlo- 
ric acids; a very slight increase of temperature suffices to de- 
velope in it a strong odour of chlorous acid gas and a yellow 
colour, owing to the solution of the gas in the remaining li- 
quid. The analogy between the oxacids of chlorine and those 
of sulphur would be perfect, were the composition of perchlo- 
ric acid Ch 3 6 , as M. Gay Lussac at first concluded from the 
reaction which produced it. All the phenomena attendant on 
the production and action of this acid, can be more satisfacto- 
rily explained, by supposing its atomic composition to be 
Ch 2 6 . A repetition of the analysis of this acid compound 
would be interesting, as it does not appear to have been made 
with the rigour calculated to inspire entire confidence.* 
II. Of the Chlorites. 
The chlorites, or more or less neutral compounds of chlo- 
rous acid with basic oxides, and of which I first proved the ex- 
istence in my paper already referred to, are salts of little sta- 
bility, as might be expected, as well from the weak acid 
properties of their acid, as from its instability. They are 
more stable than Balard's hypochlorites, and are not decom- 
* According to the analysis of Count Stadion, perchlorate of potassa 
loses 44 per cent, by its decomposition. Now, if we suppose the compo- 
sition of its acid to be Ch 2 O 7 , it should lose 46.18 per cent.; and, on the 
other hand, it should lose 42.88 per cent., allowing it to be composed of 
Ch 2 O 6 . The latter number approaches nearer to the analytical result, 
especially when we take into consideration the fact that some undecom- 
posed salt is carried over by the evolution of the gas, as was observed by 
the Count. Translator. 
