Note 127 — Chapter V · THE THEORY OF IONIZATION. II Ionization and Osmotic Pressure. Ionization and Chemical Activity

Gore, Proc. Royal Soc., 14, 204 (1841). Gore found that aluminium was dissolved and that sodium and potassium were attacked by the gas, even before its liquefaction. It is uncertain whether these positive reactions are reactions of absolutely anhydrous hydrogen chloride or the result of the presence of moisture in the experiments in question, since Cohen [Chem. News, 54, 305 (1896)], drying the gas more carefully than did Gore, found, in contrast to the latter, that metallic sodium may be exposed for several weeks to dry hydrogen chloride gas and retain its lustre. In all experiments demanding the rigorous exclusion of moisture, more weight must be attached to negative results (showing lack of activity) than to positive results. [Cf. the controversy between Baker, loc. cit., and Gutmann, Liebig's Ann., 299, 3 (1898)].