CHLOROCARBONIC ACID

(COCl 2 ). Syn. Phosgene Gas , Carbonic equal volumes of carbonic oxide and chlorine gases under the influence of sunlight (whence its name of “phosgene gas”), when the mixture gradually becomes colourle , and contracts to half its original volume. Chlorocarbonic acid has a peculiar pungent smell, and fumes strongly when exposed to moist air, the moisture of which it decomposes, producing at the same time hydrochloric and carbonic acids. It is sometimes employed in chemical research for the removal of hydrogen from organic compounds, and the substitution of carbonic oxide, or its elements for the hydrogen.