Page:The Liquefaction of Gases.djvu/13

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 * Note on the Condensation of Muriatic Acid Gas into the liquid form. By Sir H. DAVY, Bart., Pres. R.S.
 * }

N desiring Mr. to expose the hydrate of chlorine to heat in a closed glass tube, it occurred to me, that one of three things would happen; that it would become fluid as a hydrate; or that a decomposition of water would occur, and euchlorine or muriatic acid be formed; or that the chlorine would separate in a condensed state. This last result having been obtained, it evidently led to other researches of the same kind. I shall hope, on a future occasion, to detail some general views on the subject of these researches. I shall now merely mention, that by sealing the muriate of ammonia and sulphuric acid in a strong glass tube, and causing them to act upon each other, I have procured liquid muriatic acid: and by substituting carbonate for muriate of ammonia, I have no doubt that carbonic acid may be obtained, though in the only trial I have made the tube burst. I have requested Mr. to pursue these experiments, and to extend them to all the gases which are of considerable density, or to any extent soluble in water; and I hope soon to be able to lay an account of his results, with some applications of them that I propose to make, before the Society.

I cannot conclude this note without observing, that the generation of elastic substances in close vessels, either with or without heat, offers much more powerful means of approximating their molecules than those dependent upon the application of cold, whether natural or artificial: for, as gases diminish only about in volume for every—degree of  scale, beginning at ordinary temperatures, a very slight condensation only