Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of AirPriestley, Joseph
History
Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of Air
Priestley, Joseph
Air -- Early works to 1800; Chemistry -- Early works to 1800
Fine white _sugar_ absorbed this air slowly, was thoroughly penetrated
with it, became of a deep brown colour, and acquired a smell that was
peculiarly pungent.
A piece of _quick lime_ being put to about twelve or fourteen ounce
measures of acid air, and continuing in that situation about two days,
there remained one ounce measure of air that was not absorbed by water,
and it was very strongly inflammable, as much so as a mixture of half
inflammable and half common air. Very particular care was taken that no
common air mixed with the acid air in this process. At another time,
from about half the quantity of acid air above mentioned, with much less
quick-lime, and in the space of one day, I got half an ounce measure of
air that was inflammable in a slight degree only. This experiment proves
that some part of the phlogiston which escapes from the fuel, in contact
with which the lime is burned, adheres to it. But I am very far from
thinking that the causticity of quick-lime is at all owing to this
circumstance.
I have made a few more experiments on the mixture of acid air with
_other kinds of air_, and think that it may be worth while to mention
them, though nothing of consequence, at least nothing but negative
conclusions, can be drawn from them.
A quantity of common air saturated with nitrous air was put to a
quantity of acid air, and they continued together all night, without any
sensible effect. The quantity of both remained the same, and water being
admitted to them, it absorbed all the acid air, and left the other just
as before.
A mixture of two thirds of air diminished by iron filings and brimstone,
and one third acid air, were mixed together, and left to stand four
weeks in quicksilver. But when the mixture was examined, water presently
imbibed all the acid air, and the diminished air was found to be just
the same that it was before. I had imagined that the acid air might have
united with the phlogiston with which the diminished air was
overcharged, so as to render it wholsome; and I had read an account of
the stench arising from putrid bodies being corrected by acid fumes.
The remaining experiments, in which the acid air was principally
concerned, are of a miscellaneous nature.
I put a piece of dry _ice_ to a quantity of acid air (as was observed in
the section concerning _alkaline_ air) taking it with a forceps, which,
as well as the air itself, and the quicksilver by which it had been
confined; had been exposed to the open air for an hour, in a pretty
strong frost. The moment it touched the air it was dissolved as fast as
it would have been by being thrown into a hot fire, and the air was
presently imbibed. Putting fresh pieces of ice to that which was
dissolved before, they were also dissolved immediately, and the water
thus procured did not freeze again, though it was exposed a whole night,
in a very intense frost.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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