Chloride

( Chem.) Chlorine enters into combination with the metals and the non-metallic elements, forming compounds of great importance. These will be treated of particularly under the heads of their respective bases. They all, however, po e some common properties which it will be well to consider in this place. They are generally soluble in water. In many of their properties they closely resemble the oxides; and it is generally found that a metal will enter into as many combinations with chlorine as it does with oxygen. They are all fusible at ordinary temperatures, and melt and di olve with greater readine than their corresponding acids; most of the metallic chlorides are decomposed when heated in a current of hydrogen, hydrochloric acid and the pure metal being the result. This is taken advantage of in the formation of pure iron and several other metals. The chlorides of the nobler metals are generally decomposed by simple ignition, the metals remaining behind in an uncombined form. When heated with black oxide of manganese and sulphuric acid, they eliminate chlorine.