27 !• On the Absorption of Gases 



or diminution .of the latter ; but upon exami- 

 nation the residuary gas will be found a 

 fnixture of the two, and the proportions 

 agreeable to article 4. 



7. If a quantity of water in a phial having a 

 ground stopper very accurately adapted, be 

 agitated w^ith any gas, or mixture of gases, till 

 the due share has entered the water ; then, if 

 the- stopper be secured, the phial may be ex- 

 posed to any variation of temperature^ without 

 disturbing the equilibrium : That is, the quan- 

 tity of gas in the water will remain the same 

 whether it be exposed to heat or cold, if the 

 stopper be air-tight. 



N. B. The phial ought not to be near full of 

 w^ater, and the temperature should be between 

 32° and 21 2^ 



8. If. water be impregnated with one gas 



(as oxygenous), and another gas, having an 



affinity for the former (as-nitrous), be agitated 



along with it s the absorption of the latter gas 



will be greater^, by the quantity necessary to 



saturate the former, than it would have been 



if the water had been free from ^ras.* 



o 



* One part of oxygenous gas requires 3.4 of nitrous ^as to 

 saturate it in water. It is agreeable to this that the rapid 

 mixture of oxygenous and nitrous gas over abroad surface 

 of water, occasions a greater diminution than otherwise. In 

 fact, the nitrous acid is formed this way; whereas when 



4 



