The elementary nature of chlorine / Papers by Humphry Davy (1809-1818).

  • Davy, Humphry, Sir, 1778-1829.
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The elementary nature of chlorine / Papers by Humphry Davy (1809-1818). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    acid, in tubes of porcelain, and of iron, and employed the blast of an excellent forge; but by neither of these methods was any gas obtained, though when a little moisture was added to the mixtures, muriatic acid was develloped in such quantities, as almost to produce explosions. The fuming muriate of tin, the liquor of Libavius, is known to contain dry muriatic acid. I attempted to separate the acid from this substance, by distilling it with sulphur and with phosphorus; but without success. I obtained only triple compounds, in physical characters, something like the solutions of phosphorus, and sulphur in oil, which were non-conductors of electricity, which did not redden dry litmus paper, and which evolved muriatic acid gas with great violence, heat, and ebullition on the contact of water. I distilled mixtures of corrosive sublimate and sulphur, and of calomel and sulphur ; when these were used in their common states, muriatic acid gas was evolved ; but when they were dried by a gentle heat, the quantity was exceedingly diminished, and the little gas that was generated gave hydrogene by the action of potassium. During the distillation of corrosive sublimate and sulphur, a very small quantity of a limpid fluid passed over. When examined by transmitted light, it appeared yellowish green. It emitted fumes of muriatic acid, did not redden dry litmus paper, and deposited sulphur by the action of water. I am inclined to consider it as a modifica- tion of the substance discovered by Dr. Thomson, in his experiments on the action of oxymuriatic acid on sulphur. M. M. Gay Lussac and Thenard* have mentioned, that they endeavoured to procure dry muriatic acid by distilling a mixture of calomel and phosphorus, and that * The Moniteur before quoted [May 27, 1808].