444: Researches upon the Heat developed in Comlustion. 



Lowitz, of the. specific gravity of 792, at the temperature 



of 16' Reaumur, are composed of 



Carbon 42-82 



Free or combustible hydrogen ... lO'lS 



Consequently, combustible substances 53 

 Water 47 



100 

 Or, reducing the water to its elements, 100 parts of this 

 alcohol are composed of 



Carbon 42*82 



Hydrogen, combined and non- 

 combustible 5'64 



Hydrogen, combustible JO* 18 15*82 



Oxygen 41 -36 



100 

 By supposing that water exists completely formed both 

 in alcohol and ether, the constituent parts of these two 

 liquids would be, according to the results of our inquiries, 



Alcohol. Ether. 



Carbon 42-82 59 



Combustible hydrogen 10*18 ITS 



Water 47 29*2 



100 100 



The elements of water exist most assuredly both in al- 

 cohol and ether ; but there is good reason to believe that 

 water does not exist in its natural state of condensation in 

 these two substances, neither when they are in a state of 

 liquidity, nor when, being sufficiently heated, they are trans- 

 formed into elastic fluids. 



When we mix water with alcohol, there is a considerable 

 change both in tenjperature and volume, which indicates a 

 new arrangement of elements, or a chemical action ; and 

 what proves in a still more certain manner that this action 

 has taken place, the liquid which resnlts from this mixture 

 mav be distilled, i. e. vaporized by heat, and afterwards 

 condensed, without being decoinposed : but it is above all 

 in the little heat which is developed in the condensation of 

 the vajX)ur of alcohol and ether that we discover certain 

 proofs that the oxygen and hydrogen which exist as ele- 

 ments in these liquids do not exist in the slate of water. I 

 shall recur to this subject again. 



[To be continued] 



LXVII. On 



