340 0« the conjiituent Parts of AzoL 



General Remarks, 



To obtain azotic gas in the greateft quantity, the water 

 muft be evaporated very flowly, and over a very gentle fire 3 

 and care muft be taken not to increafe the tire too much. 



In every experiment of this kind, without exception, it 

 may be obferved, that when the laft drop of water is evapo- 

 rating the azotic gas ceafes to be produced, though the fire 

 be continued. 



Refults of the Experments, 



Such are the fac^s and plain ftatement of the ex:periments, 

 independent of all fyftem, of all explanation, and of all the- 

 ory. It thence refults : 



I. That Meffrs. VViegleb and Goeltling were right in fay- 

 ing that water was converted into azotic gas by the action of 

 fire. 



3. That they were wrong in maintaining that this change 

 always takes place, and under all circuniftances, when the 

 fteam of the water is brought into contact with bodies 

 brought to ignition in the fire. 



3. That Mr. Wiegleb has net proved what he alTerts, viz. 

 that th^ converfion of water into gas is owing to a mere addi- 

 tion of caloric, and that water forms the bafe of all the gafes. 



4. That the Dutch chemifts were wropg in advancing 

 that the converfion of water into azotic gas never took place 

 in any cafe whatever; and that the gas obtained arofe from 

 atmofpheric air which had pafTed through the retorts and 

 the tubes. 



5. That there are certain circumftances under vvhi^h water 

 is converted into azotic gas, and others where it is not ; and 

 that it is eafy to reconcile the oppofite parties. 



The change of water into azotic gas by the a£^ion of ca- 

 loric and of earths being afcertained, the queftion was, to find 

 a folution of this problem. The manner in whi,ch I explain 

 it is as follows : — I have obferved, as well as Ingenhouz, 

 Von Humboldt, and Van Mons, that moift earths are en- 

 dowed with the property of abforbing the oxygen of the at- 

 mofphere at the common temperature. Befides, I have ob- 

 ferved a circnmftance, not mentioned by Von Humboldt, 

 8 that 



