by IVater and other Liquids, ' 19 



impregnated with atmospheric air at the beginning, the 

 residuary gas, examined at any time, will be pure atmo- 

 spheric air. 



14. If anygaS) not containing either azotic or oxygenous 

 gas, be agitated over water containing- atmospheric air, the 

 residuum will be found to contain both azotic and oxygenous 

 gas. 



15. Let a quantity of water contain equal portions of 

 any two or more unequally absorbable gases: for. instance, 

 azotic gas, oxygenous gas, and carbonic acid gas ; then- let 

 the water be boiled, or subjected to the air pump, and it will 

 be found that unequal portions of the gases will be expelled: 

 the azotic will be the greatest part, the oxygenous next, 

 and the carbonic acid will be the least. For, the previous 

 impregnation being such as is due to atmospheres of the 

 following relative forces nearly. 



Azotic - - 21 inches of mercury 



Oxygenous - 9 ditto 



Carbonic acid 0^ ditto 

 consequently, when those forces are removed, the resili- 

 ency of the azotic gas will be the greatest, and that of the 

 carbonic acid the least ; the last will even be so small as not 

 to overcome the cohesion of the water without violent ain- 



o 



tation. 



Remarks o?^ Ihe AutJiority of the preceding Fads. 



In order to give the chain of facts as distinct as possible, 

 I have not mentioned by whom, or in what manner, they 

 were ascertained. 



The fact mentioned in the first article has been lono- 



o 



known ; a doubt, however, remained respecting the quan- 

 tity of air still left in water after ebullition and the operation 

 of the air pump. The subsequent arliclcs will, 1 appre- 

 hend, have placed this in a clearer point of view. 



In determining the quantity of gases absorbed, I had the 

 result of Mr. William Henry's experience, on the subjecf 

 before me, an account of which has been published iii ths 

 Philosophical Transactions for 1803, By the reciprocal 

 communications since, we have been enabled to brina the 

 B 2 rc^uus 



