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

  • Humphry Davy
Date:
1902
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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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    by M. Gay Lussac, and to the theory of definite pro- portions. I have stated on a former occasion, that approximations to the numbers representing the proportions in which oxygene and oxymuriatic gas combine, are found in 7.5 and 32.9. And this compound gas contains nearly these quantities.* The smell of the pure explosive gas somewhat resembles that of burnt sugar, mixed with the peculiar smell of oxymuriatic gas. Water appeared to take up eight or ten times its volume; but the experiment was made over mercury, which might occasion an error, though it did not seem to act on the fluid. The water became of a tint approaching to orange. When the explosive gas was detonated with hydrogene, equal to twice its volume, there was a great absorption, to more than ~, and solution of muriatic acid was formed ; when the explosive gas was in excess, oxygene was always expelled, a fact demonstrating the stronger attraction of hydrogene for oxymuriatic gas than for oxygene. I have said that mercury has no action upon this gas in its purest form at common temperatures. Copper and antimony, which so readily burn in oxymuriatic gas, did not act upon the explosive gas in the cold : and when * In page 245 of the Phil. Trans, for i8io[p. 35], I have mentioned that the specific gravity of oxymuriatic gas, is between 74 and 75 grains per 100 cubical inches. The gas that I weighed, was collected over water and procured from hyperoxymuriate of potash, and at that time I conceived, that this elastic fluid did not differ from the oxymuriatic gas from manganese, except in being purer. It probably contained some of the new gas ; for I find that the specific gravity of pure oxymuriatic gas from manganese, and muriatic acid is to that of common air, as 244 to 100. Taking this estimation, the specific gravity of the new gas will be about 238, and the number representing the proportion in which oxymuriatic gas combines, from this estimation, will be rather higher than is stated above.