Phlogijlon hijlead of Hydrogene. ^g, 



pie of inflammability to combine with oxygene, difqualifies the latter in moft cafes from 

 becoming an acid with the former; unlefs it fliould be found (and in this I have no faith) 

 that the formation of the native acids of vegetables is a procefs of this kind. Should this 

 latter conjedure turn out to be the fafl, there would be inftances enough of phbg:J}k and 

 phlogijloii! acids. 



The nomenclature will then ftand thus : 



^- 3- 4. 



Phlogifton > Phologiftous gas -j Oxyd of phlogifton r Gafcous oxyd of phlogifton 



f*"^ I for I for J for 



Hydrogene. j Hydrogenous or j Water or oxyd of | Aqueous gas, or watery fteam. 



J inflammable air. J hydrogene. I. 



5- 6. -. 



Phlogiftous and phlogiflic acids. 

 Probably no fuch things ; the 

 hydrogene or phlogifton not 

 being capable of combining 

 with oxygene beyond the de- 

 gree of oxyd. 



'Phlogiftates and phlo--, Phlogifturcs and phlogifturets ; 

 giftites. Probably no of fulphur, coal, phofphorus, 

 fuch combination. iron and zinc, 



inftead of 

 The common fulphur, &c. 

 of the laboratories and fhops, 

 &c. &c. 



On the decompofition of fat and oil by fire, it is known that a large quantity of water is 

 formed, and this probably by an union of the bafe of vital air with phlogifton or hydrogene. 

 The like obtains in the inflammation of alcohol, camphor, ether and coal, part of the 

 phlogifton or hydrogene of which apparently turns to water by jundion with oxygene. 

 And the principle which in the firft Inftance readily exhibits the blazing appearance is 

 changed by and during that operation to a fomething much more difficult to inflame by any 

 after-procefs. 



If hydrogene or phogifton is the material which inflames in the fubftances already 

 mentioned, there is prefumptive evidence, upon the face of the fubjcdt, of its exiftencc alfo 

 in the common fulphur, phofphorus, zinc, and iron of the laboratories. I do not mean to 

 fay it is a necejfarily conftituent part of either of thofe bodies ; for I believe they may exift 

 without it, or at leaft they may be conceived to cxlft abftrattedly from it. They therefore 

 fland very well in the nomenclature as fimple fubftances. But if thefe fubftances, fuch as 

 we commonly get them after expofureto the common atmofphere in ordinary temperatures, 

 are taken for fimple or pure elementary bodies, the perfons who confider them fo fall into 

 a great miftake. In their ufual forms they are all Incorporated with hydrogene or phlogif- 

 ton, and from it derive their capacity to burn with flame. This will be the more clearly 

 feen by confidcring them more particularly one by one. 



1. Of Sulphur. The Phlogiftians fay fulphur is compofed of phlogifton united to vitriolic 

 acid ; conftquently if any thing takes away that ingredient from the acid, this will turn to 

 brimftone. The antiphlogillians aflirm fulphur to be a fimple body, uncombined chemically 

 with any thing ; and that it becomes fulphurlc acid by junfVion with oxygene. Now both 

 parties have rcafoned in a manner that does not by any means fatisfy me. They have 

 viewed the combuftion of fulphur in the ab(lra<Sl, rather than taken it up as it is. The 

 fact is, that the acid formed in the combuftion of fulphur is not the folid cryftallizcd mat- 



3 (;>^2 ter 



