Page:Experimental researches in chemistry and.djvu/50

1820.] and the whole again exposed to sunlight: the colour again disappeared, and a few moist crystals were formed round the edge of the fluid. Chlorine being a third time introduced, and treated as before, it still removed more hydrogen; and now a sublimate of crystals lined the retort; Proceeding in this way until the chlorine exerted no further action, the fluid entirely disappeared, and the results were, the dry crystalline substance and muriatic acid gas.

A portion of olefiant gas was then mixed in a retort with eight or nine times its bulk of chlorine, and exposed to sunlight. At first the fluid formed, but this instantly disappeared; the retort became lined with crystals, and the colour of the chlorine very much diminished.

On examining these crystals, I found they were the compound I was in search of; but before I give the proofs of their nature, I will describe the process by which this chloride of carbon can be obtained pure.

Perchloricle of Carbon.—A glass vessel was made in the form of an alembic head, but without the beak; the neck was considerably contracted, and had a brass cap with a stopcock cemented on; at the top was a small aperture, into which a ground stopper fitted air-tight. The capacity of the vessel was about 200 cubic inches. Being exhausted by the air-pump, it was nearly filled with chlorine; and being then placed over olefiant gas, and as much as could enter having passed in, the stopcocks were shut, and the whole left for a short time. When the fluid compound of chlorine and olefiant gas had formed and condensed on the sides of the vessel, it was again placed over olefiant gas, and in consequence of the condensation of a large portion of the gases, a considerable quantity more entered. This was left, as before, to combine with part of the remaining chlorine, to condense, and to form a partial vacuum; which was again filled with olefiant gas, and the process repeated until all the chlorine had united to form the fluid, and the vessel remained full of olefiant gas. Chlorine was then admitted in repeated portions as before; consequently more of the fluid formed; and ultimately a large portion was obtained in the bottom of the vessel, and an atmosphere of chlorine above it. It was now exposed to sunlight. The chlorine immediately disappeared, and the vessel became filled with