Chap. 5.] [ 39* ] 



CHAP. V. 



INFLAMMABLE AIR OR HYDROGEN GAS*. 



This Gas forms the Ba/is of Water. Prc port ion of Hydrogen and Oxy- 

 gen 'which enter into the Compojiticn of Water. Modes of procuring 

 inflammable Air.Ignes Fatui. Fire Damp in Mines. Lightejl of 

 all Fluids. Remarkable Prefer ties. Life in Air Balloons, 'Curious 

 wial Fireworks. 



TO that fluid, which we term inflammable air, the 

 French chemifts have given the name of hydro- 

 gen gas, becaufe its bafis is the peculiar conftituent part 

 of water j but what this bafis may be in its nature, 

 whether fimple or compound, is at prefent unknown, 

 . becaufe it cannot be feparated from the heat or caloric 

 which gives it the aerial form, without fixing it in 

 another fubftance. 



According to M. Lavoifier, water is compofed 

 of eighty-five parts of oxygen and fifteen parti of 

 hydrogen. This philofopher has inftructed us in 

 the following method of obtaining this gas by heat 

 only f 



Let water pafs drop by drop thrbugh the barrel of 

 a gun, while it remains red hpt amidft burning coals j 

 let a crooked tube placed at the end of this iron, and 



* '"f$up (hydor) " water" and ysi*o* (geinomai) " to pro- 

 duce." 



f Briffon, torn. ii. p. 73. 



C c 4 bent 



