The early history of chlorine : papers / by Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1774), C.L. Berthollet (1785), Guyton de Morveau (1787), J.L. Gay-Lussac and L. J. Thenard (1809).

Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The early history of chlorine : papers / by Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1774), C.L. Berthollet (1785), Guyton de Morveau (1787), J.L. Gay-Lussac and L. J. Thenard (1809). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    quantity of hydrogen collected in this experiment is precisely the same as that which the metal would give in contact with water, and as we know, from the experiments of MM. Henry and Berthollet that muriatic acid gas contains much water, we may believe that this hydrogen comes from the action of the water of the acid on the metal, and consequently we can from this conclude nothing as to the nature of the acid. In order to solve this question we would require to have muriatic acid free from water; but this, as will be seen by what follows, we can get only by combining it with other bodies, which then prevent its decomposition: that is why, when we treat calomel or oxymuriatic acid gas with phosphorus, we get a liquor formed of oxygen, phosphorus, and muriatic acid, of which the principal characters are that it is strongly acid, devoid of colour, and very limpid; that it becomes troubled in the course of some days; that on contact with the air it spontane- ously inflames absorbent paper which has been saturated with it; that it brings about, suddenly and by itself, the combustion of the metal of potash; finally, that with red-hot iron it forms muriate and phosphide of iron, without the disengagement of any gas other than a little muriatic acid. ***** On the properties of fluoric acid, and especially its action on the metal of potash. ***** .... It is thus proved that this gas* cannot contain water in any form, neither in the hygrometric state nor combined. Ammonia gas is absolutely in the same case, * [Fluoric acid gas, i.e., boron fluoride, prepared by heating fluor spar with boric anhydride.]