Experiments on the Oxidation ef Metals by E/effrlciiy. j.jg 



whole by five difcharges through five lengths of wire, each length was feven inches* In 

 this manner, therefore, thirty-five inches of wire was converted into a blueifh white im- 

 palpable powder. The apparatus was then placed in the water as before, and after it had 

 remained the fame length of time, the mercury gage was opened. No motion in the mercury 

 was perceived, and when the water gage was alfo opened, no alteration was there feen. 

 Hence I concluded that no abforption of air had taken place, though five times the original 

 length of wire had been reduced to powder. The air in the apparatus was then eudiome- 

 trically examined, and it appeared to be of the fame purity as the furrounding atmofphere. 



EXPERIMENT III. 



The apparatus was taken out of the water, and the powder which was produced in the 

 receiver carefully taken out ; the apparatus was then furnilhed with the fame length of 

 wire as before, all the fcrews and cocks were well examined, and the apparatus fet in the 

 water as before. After it had ftood its time, the gages were fcrewed tight, it was taken 

 out of the water and fet to the battery when the lafl: experiment was repeated, and it was 

 afterwards fet in the water, and the gages opened. No abforption having taken place, it 

 was left in the water till the fame hour on the following day, when the mercury gage was 

 ■opened, and indicated that an abforption of about one cubic inch had taken place. The 

 water was of the fame temperature as at firft. This experiment confequently fliews that 

 the metal was firft divided, and afterwards oxigenated by a flow procefs. 



EXPERIMENT IV. 

 The laft experiment was repeated with double the length of wire, and the refult was the 

 fame. 



EXPERIMENT V. ^ 



A fmaller receiver was now taken, being only four inches diameter, which was half 

 the diameter of the former. The fame kind of po^vder was produced, and a diminution of 

 air happened when thirty-five inches had been reduced to powder, which caufed the water 

 gage to rife one inch, and the mercury -^ inch. 



EXPERIMENT VI. 



Wires of different diameters were now prepared in the laft receiver, of t4^ and tts 

 inch diameter, and of each thirty-five inches ; and the refult was the fame with refpeiSt to 

 air, but the powder was whiter. 



By the refult of the three laft experiments, it appeared that the abforption of air by the 

 exploded metal apparently depended upon the diameter of the receivers wherein the pro- 

 cefs was carried on, for which reafon I determined to repeat the experiments in receivers of 

 much lefs diameter. 



T 2 EXPERIMENT 



