2o Solution and Mixture. [Book I. 



placed by the addition of an alkaly This fpecies of 

 attraction is called combination, ^ecaufe the particles 

 of two bodies by thofe means become fo intimately 

 united or combined, that they cannot be feparated but 

 by the addition of a third body, which has a greater 

 attraction for one of the component bodies that they 

 have for one another, and it is called elective attrac- 

 traction and affinity, from the fuperior tendency in 

 fubftances to unite with certain bodies in preference 

 of others. In all cafes of elective attraction it is ne- 

 ceffary, that at lead one of the bodies mould be in a 

 fluid ftate. 



It is evident that all folutions muft be the effect of 

 an elective attraction. Byfolution I mean the difper- 

 fion of the particles of a folid body in a fluid in il> equal 

 a manner, that the compound liquor (hall be perfectly 

 and permanently tranfparent. In this cafe, therefore, 

 it is plain that the particles of the fluid muft have a 

 ftronger attraction for the particles of the folid body 

 than they have for one another. A folid body may 

 indeed, by mere mechanical means, be minutely dif- 

 perfed through a fluid, but the compound in this cafe 

 will be opake and muddy, and if fuffered to remain 

 at reft, a fediment will immediately be depofited. 

 Thus, if chalk or clay is incorporated with water, they 

 will impart to it their peculiar colour, and the fluid 



ziment water, containing vitriol of copper, and meeting with 

 the iron, depofited its copper; and it feems as if he would have 

 acceded to this opinion, could he have told what became of the 

 iron. It is now very well underlined what becomes of the iron ; 

 it is taken up by the water, and remains fufpendcd in it, in the 

 place of the copper; io that this tranfmutation is nothing but a 

 change of pjace ; and as the copper is precipitated by the iron, 

 fo the iron might be precipitated by pot-aft, or any other fub- 

 ftance which has a greater affinity with the acid of vitriol than 

 iron, has/ Watfon's Chem. Eff. p. 234. to 2^6. 



will 



