ji Experiments on Charcoal. 



wax, and animal matters, after being fubjectcd to the action 

 of a ftrong heat, were perfectly fimilar to common charcoal, 

 for, like it, they produced no water by combuftion. Our in- 

 tention in making thefe experiments not only was to afcertain 

 whether thefe kinds of charcoal were united with hydrogen, 

 but alfo to determine the relative quantities of oxygen they 

 might contain above that necefTary to convert them into car- 

 bonic acid. 



But all thofe kinds of charcoal above mentioned, as well as 

 coak, plumbago, and anthracite, required nearly the fame 

 quantity of oxygen. The following is the refult of the expe- 

 riments : 



The apparatus was the fame as that employed for the com-^ 

 bullion of the charcoal of wood. It will, perhaps, not give 

 complete fatisfa&ion, on account of the fufpicion generally 

 entertained of the permeability of bladders: we fhall, how- 

 ever, obferve, that thofe which we employed were prepared 

 in fuch a manner as not to fuffer the gas contained in them 

 to efcape. Befides, the refults which we obtained, and of which 

 we fhall give an exa£t account, are fo agreeable to thofe of 

 Lavoifier, and to that given to us by the combuftion of the 

 charcoal of wood in a balloon filled with oxygen, that they 

 may with certainty be depended on. 



The combuftion of plumbago was the mod interesting. 

 The whole was not burnt. The portion which remained 

 hid become of a pale black colour exa&ly like charcoal : at 

 fane parts of its furface it appeared that the texture of its 

 parts had become lefs compact, and that the black colour 

 was entirely owing to this attenuation, 



Many 



