4 oo Phenomena cf Freezing. [ B ook V 1 1 . 



from a fluid to its folid ftate, expands. This effect is- 

 more fenfible in this than. in any other of the metals, 

 on account of its platey texture. He found that cad 

 iron, thrown among fome of the fame metal melted, 

 fwims upon the top. In the cafe of immediate expan- 

 fion upon congealing, the iron feems to agree with 

 water : they differ in this ; the iron never expands by 

 cold afterwards, whereas the ice, being expofed to 

 greater degrees of cold, becomes more bulky; the 

 folid parts not being fo clofely connected ffom a par- 

 ticular arrangement, which renders the whole mafs 

 lighter than before. ^Quickfilver contracts in becom- 

 ing folid ; and both caft iron and ice contain feveral 

 interftices, which, if allowed for, make it appear that 

 thefe bodies in reality occupy lefs fpace when folid,- 

 than in a fluid ftate. 



