Elements of the branches of natural philosophy connected with medicine : viz. Chemistry, Optics, Acoustics, Hydrostatics, Electricity, and Physiology ; including the Doctrine of the Atmosphere, Fire, Phlogiston, Water, &c. ; together with Bergman's tables of elective attractions, with explanations and improvements / by J. Elliot, M.D.

  • Eliot, John, Sir, 1736-1786.
Date:
1776
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of the branches of natural philosophy connected with medicine : viz. Chemistry, Optics, Acoustics, Hydrostatics, Electricity, and Physiology ; including the Doctrine of the Atmosphere, Fire, Phlogiston, Water, &c. ; together with Bergman's tables of elective attractions, with explanations and improvements / by J. Elliot, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    42/380 (page 20)
    % REMARKS ON ALCALIS. All thefe alcalis, in their natural ftate, are not pure, but mild, or combined with fixed air. Hence, when they are mixed with acids, they caufe an effervefcence, which is nothing more than this air extricated from them by the acid, raifing bubbles as it efcapes through the liquid. If quicklime be mixed with them, it attracts the fixed air, and they then become cauftic or pure. Thus, the lixivium faponarium is the cauftic fixed alcali $ and the fpirit of fal ammoniac, made with lime, is the cauftic volatile alcali. Cauftic alcalis violently attradl water. Hence they are ufually in a liquid ftate; but they may be ob- tained feparate from the water. Thus, lapis infernalis is the dry cauftic fixed alcali; and alcaline air is the dry cauftic volatile alcali. The cauftic alcalis form the fame neutral falts with acids as the mild ones; the air efcaping when the latter are employed. Volatile alcali contains more of the inflamma- ble principle than the fixed. Hence it is, that it detonates with nitrous acid, when united in the form of nitrous fal ammoniac. \ \ III. NEUTRAL