1 94 On the Injluence of Tlme^ as a Chemical Agent, &c, 



U'lned oxygen gas with a small quantity of water. Whca 

 the flask was opened in the tub, the water of the latter rose 

 in a very remarkable manner, and the absorption appeared to 

 me to he equal to at least half the volume of the water 

 contained in the flask before we opened it ; the barometej 

 and thermometer were nearly at the same height as at the 

 moment of introduction : the temperature of the water of 

 the tub was also the same. 



It seems therefore from this experiment, that the same 

 mass of water which at first could only absorb a certain 

 volume of oxygen gas, absorbed a considerable volume of 

 It after some time ; whence it should seem, that in the first 

 case the air was but feebly combined, and in some measure 

 interposed between the particles of the water. But th» 

 prolonged action of the liquid, diminishing more and more 

 the elasticity of the gas, and contracting it as It were by 

 degrees, made it enter further forward into the sphere gf. 

 attraction of its particles, which has rendered the water 

 susceptible of absorbing a new quantity of gas. 



2. The same thing takes place relative to hydrogen gas, 

 which I also witnessed at M. Marty's. The absorption, in 

 this case, was equally strong, and M. Marty finds by his 

 experiments that the volume absorbed is more considerable, 

 and the absorption more speedy, with this gas than with oxy- 

 gen gas. He found, also, tha^ in two years the volume of 

 gas absorbed was not equal to the volume of the water. 



3. Water already charged with oxygen is more proper for 

 absorbing hydrogen, and vice versa: this is analogous to 

 what was remarked by Messrs. Humboldt and Gay Lussac. 

 M. Marty's experiments, however, have the advantage of 

 having been made in close vessels. 



4. The absorption is the more considerable in proportion 

 as the volume of water is greater. 



5. These eflfects do not take place with azotic gas : after 

 once shaking the water for some time with this gas, it does 

 not absorb an atom more, however long time we leave it in 

 contact. 



6. If we put water charged with azot in contact with hy- 

 drogen or oxygen gas, it absorbs these gases vvithout aban- 

 doning 



