BICHAT, MARIE FRANCO IS XAV

IER (1771-1802), Fr. physician, anatomist, and physiologist; conducted valuable researches in med., an at., and physiology. BICHLORIDE OF GOLD. A compound of gold and chlorine stated to have the formula Au:2Cls also known as aurous chloraurate. The existence of this compound is, however, disputed by many authorities. Two other chlorides of gold are well recognized and readily prepared, namely Auri¢ Chloride, Au Cls, or gold trichloride, prepared by heating gold leaf or powder with chlorine, and Aurous Chloride, A2Cl, obtained by heating the trichloride to 175° C. The bichloride is said to be formed when finely divided gold is heated from 140° to 170? C. in chlorine, the product being a dark red ma , which on addition of water is decomposed into gold and auric chloride. It is claimed, however, that this is not a distinct compound but consists merely of 'a mechanical mixture of metallic gold with auric chloride. The weight of evidence appears to support this view. 18127), Eng. dramatist; 6. in Ireland; author of many popular plays; name eed as pseudonym by both Swift and eele,