%l% On the Carbon in Iron and Steet 



During the immerfion of the fteel, a double affinity was 

 exerted ; part of the oxygen of*the decomposed water united 

 to the carbon to form carbonic acid : this union was at 

 any time highly facilitated by raifirtg the temperature of the 

 water. The precipitate and oxyd upon the furface of the 

 plate then became covered with tranfparent bubbles, which 

 remained if the temperature was decreafed; but on the con- 

 trary rofe to the top and efcaped, if the heat was augmented. 

 The other affinity excited was that of the oxygen upon the 

 iron ; which h (lowly oxydated, covering the furface at firft 

 with a flight yellow membrane of the thicknefs of gold leaf. 

 This daily increafed, and at the end of fifty days had ac- 

 quired firmnefs and confiftency. After carefully drying the 

 plate, I began to feparate the oxyd from the furface. This 

 eafily parted in fcales, and under it I found the furface of 

 the plate entirely covered with fine carbon, without greafe 

 or the fmalleft afperity. When ftrewed in the fire, it 

 fparkled and exhibited the fame characters as charcoal. 



This experiment proves clearly that carbon exifts in fteel 

 in a concrete ftate, though not crude — in chemical union, 

 however, and not as a mere mixture as in crude iron. 



I cannot conclude this note without — *, 



and expreffing a hope that the confirmation of this fa6l may 

 Jead to a folution of many of the phenomena attending the 

 manufacture of iron. 



* The author here pays us a compliment to which we have no claim, 

 and having already inferted enough of what refpetts ourfelves to flicw that 

 we would not willingly difobcy his commands, we hope he will excufe 

 iliis fmall chajm. Edit, 



XVII. A 



