"6 Experiments ‘ai at the Polytechnic School 
no leis excluded this identity. Tnideed if the diamond wat» 
pure carbon, why had it not the fame affinities?) Why does 
it not, like it, ferve to make the oxigenated muriat of pot- 
ath detonate; to deoxygenate fulphur, ‘arfenic, and phofpho= 
tus; to deoxydate metals, which are fufficiently fixed to un- 
deryo the degree of fire which determines its combination 
with oxygen? Why does it not form allo carbures? Why 
does it not, like it, conduct the electric fluid? , We know: 
that the aggre@ation conceals fometimes the affinities by 
eounterbalancing ‘their power, but not in operations where 
the bodies are fufliciently fixed, and the temperature fulfi- 
eiently high, to render effectual the weakeft attractions. 
Something remained, then, to be difcovered to harmomi{e . 
and make us comprehend facts in appearance fo. contrary *2 
i imagined that it was by attentive obfervation of what took  . 
place during the act of the combuftion. of the diamond, that 
we thould attempt to penetrate this fecret of nature. The 
experiments L am about to defcribe will, I hope, prove that 
my attempt has not been vain; that the explanation-of phe- 
nomena, which have appeared to us the mott incoherent, . , 
may hereafter be deduced from fome circumftances which: 
were not obferved nor even fufpected,.and which have en- 
abled us to.make an important {tep in the knowledge of the 
nature of the diamond, fince we can indicate fubftances 
which ap proach much nearer to it than carbon. | 
Thefe experiments, begun in Thermidor year 5} w ere not 
_ terminated till the 11th of Fruétidor year 6. Various acei- 
dents, which may be readily conceived, and the fewnels of 
the days wl:en the rays of the fun are not interrupted by 7 
clouds or weakened by vapours, were the prineipal caufes of 
this delay. I fhall fupprefs. the details of tho!e eflays which 
€id not lead to conclufive refults; but I fhall not: neglect 
thefe which furnifhed us with an opportunity of obferving 
feveral times the fame facts, and fometimes in a more defiinét 
manner; though, by the effect of fome unforefeen £ ireum-= 
fiance, it was not poffible to keep an account of “therm in 
* C. Berthollet, in his Le€tures at the Normal Schoo}, fill! leaves it im 
doubt whether the diamond is cryitallifed carbon, or carbon cambised with 
fomre oth.r fubfiance. e 
regard - 
