Volume 1

Elements of chemistry, in a new systematic order, containing all the modern discoveries. ... / by Mr. Lavoisier. Translated from the French by Robert Kerr.

  • Lavoisier, Antoine Laurent, 1743-1794.
Date:
1802
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of chemistry, in a new systematic order, containing all the modern discoveries. ... / by Mr. Lavoisier. Translated from the French by Robert Kerr. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    92/432 (page 86)
    y oppofe this union. Thefe obftacles are the mu- tual adhefîon of the two conftituent parts of the atmolphere for each other, and the eledtive attraction which unîtes the bafe of vital air with calorie ; in confequence of thefe, when the cal- cination ends, or is at leaft carried as far as is poffible in a determinate quantity of atmofphe- ric air, there ftill remains a portion of refpirable air united to the mephitis, which the mercury cannot feparate. 1 lhall aftenvards fhew, that, at leaft in our climate, the atmofpheric air is compofed of refpirable and mephitic airs, in the proportion of 27 and 73 ; and I lhall then difeufs the caufes of the uncertainty which ftill exifts with refpect to the exaeftnefs of that pro- portion. Since, during the calcination of mercury, air is decompofed, and the bafe of its refpirable part is fixed and combined with the mercury, ït follows, from the principles already eftablifh- ed, that calorie and light muft be difengaged during the procefs. But the two following caufes prevent us from being fenlible of this taking place : As the calcination lafts during lè- verai days, the difengagement of calorie and light, fpread out in a conliderable fpace of time, becomes extremely fmall for each particular moment of the time, fo as not to be percep- tible ; and, the operation being carried on by yneans of firc in a furnace, the heat produced by