by Water and other Liquids. 21 



former of these, I think, decides the effect to be mecha- 

 nical ; and the latter seems to point to the principle on 

 which the equilibrium is adjusted. 



The facts noticed in the 4th, 5th, and 6th articles were 

 investigated, a priori, from the mechanical hypothe.-.is, and 

 the notion of the distinct agency of elastic fluids when mixed 

 together. The results were found entirely to agree with 

 i)oth, or as nearly as could be expected from experiments 

 of such nature. 



The facts mentioned in the 7th article are of great import- 

 ance in a theoretic view ; for, if the quantity of gas absorbed 

 depend upon mechanical principles, it cannot be affected by 

 temperature in confined air, as the mechanical effect of the 

 external and internal air is alike increased by heat, and the 

 density not at all affected in those circumstances. I have 

 tried the experiments in a considerable variety of tempera- 

 ture without perceiving any deviation from the principle. It 

 deserves further attention. 



If water be, as pointed out bv this essay, a mere recep- 

 tacle of gases, it cannot affect their affinities: hence what 

 IS observed in the 8th article is too obvious to need explana- 

 tion. And if we find the absorption of gases to arise not 

 from a chemical but a mechanical cause, it may be ex- 

 pected that all liquids having a^i equal fluidity with water 

 will absorb like portions of gas. In several lupjids I have 

 tried, no perceptible difference has betn iound ; but this de- 

 serves further investigation. 



After what has been observed, it seems unnecessary to 

 add any explanation of the iOth and following articles. 



Theory of t fie Absorption of Gases ly IVater, &'c. 



From the facts developed in the preceding articles, the 

 following theory of the absorption of gases by water seems 

 deducible : 



1. All gases that enter into water and other litjuids by 

 means of pressure, and are wholly disengaged again by the 

 removal of that pressure, are mechanically mixed with the 

 liquid, and not chemically combined with it. 



2. Gases go mixed with water, Sec. retain their cl.isticity 



B 3 or 



