186 M. R. Bunsen on the Law of Absorption of Gases. 



be twice absorbed from tbe same volume h of water, at the same 

 temperature, but under different pressures P and P„ the amount 

 of gas absorbed in the two cases is, according to formula (2), — 



«PA 



aVJi 



9= o^ and 9l = ^™. 

 Hence follows 



JL-2. 



ffx ~ Pi' 



The following determinations made with the absorptiometer 

 show, within the limit of the experimental errors, that the amount 

 of carbonic acid g n absorbed in the same volume of water at the 

 same temperature increases proportionally to the corresponding 

 pressures P„. 



Carbonic Acid at 19 0, 9 C. 



Carbonic Acid at 3 0, 2 C. 



This ratio between the absorbed gaseous volume and tbe 

 pressure is more clearly seen in cases in which the partial press- 

 ures occur, i. e. in which alterations in the pressure are effected 

 by dilution with another gas. Tbe formula (14) gives a conve- 

 nient statement of this relation, 



x _ W-B A 

 x + y~ A-B "W 



By means of this formula the composition of a mixture of two 

 gases can be calculated when the following quantities are given : 

 a, the absorption-coefficient of the first gas, /Sj that of the second; 

 V the common volume of both gases before the absorption under 

 the pressure P ; Vj the residual volume after the absorption 

 under the pressure P, ; and lastly, the volume h of the absorbing 

 water. If the composition of the mixture calculated from these 

 experimental elements coincides with that found directly by 



