3jG On the conjlltuent Parts of Az«t. 



Now, Inftead of S let us fubftltiite its value found by th(? 

 preceding calculation, and we fhall have 

 lod N = 79-5 O + 20-5 (079 O + 6'ii H) = 95*7 O 

 4- 4'3 H nearly. 



100 Grains of nitric acid contain, therefore, nearly 96 

 grains of oxygen and 4 grains of hydrogen. 



The fame mode of calculation gave me alfo the following 

 refults : 



100 Parts of ammonia = 6372 o.tygen + 36-28 hyd. 



100 Parts azot = 79-0 oxygen + ii'O hydrogen. 



too Parts of atmofpheric air = 8467 oxyg. + i5'33 hyd. 



100 Parts of water = 85-66 oxygen + 14-34 hydrogen. 



100 Parts of the gafeous oxyd of azot = 86-77 oxygen 4- 

 13 -23 hydrogen. 



100 Parts of nitrous gas = 93*28 oxygen + 6-72 hyd. 



100 Parts of the nitrous acid = 94*33 oxyg. -f- 5-67 hyd. 



100 Parts of the nitric acid = ^S'7° '^^Vg' + 4'3° hyd. 



May not oxvgen and hydrogen be the two elements of 

 which all bodies in nature are compofed ? To me this feenia 

 not at all improbable. It feems probable, alfo, that the hea- 

 vier a body, the more it contains oxygen in a concentrated 

 ftate, and deprived of caloric ; and that, on the other hand, 

 the more a body contains hydrogen, the lighter it ought to 

 "be. But thefe are merely hypothefes, which muft be con- 

 firmed or refuted by future experiments. 



It is feldom as fimple bodies, but rather as compounds in 

 different proportions, that the two conftituent principles of azot 

 enter into the combination of bodies. Carbon or the oxyd of 

 the diamond is found in many bodies, and the diamond in 

 none with which we are acquainted. We obtain carbon in 

 our chemical decompofitions, and not diamond. We do not 

 even know the diamond or diamontic (adamantine) acid, 

 though we know very well the carbonic acid. No chemift 

 will think of faying that we exhale diamond in refpiration, 

 but carbon. The diamond, perhaps, is not even a fimple 

 body J in all pr jbability it contains flill oxygen ; for all tranf- 

 parent bodies, if I am not miftaken, contain more or lefs of 

 it. Thus, azot as well as carbon enters into feveral combina- 

 tions as azotj as a double principle, which gives bodies very 



different 



