I OF POLARITY. 93 



lirst, with carbon, forms (occasionally) carbonic oxide, both of 

 which are inflammable ; but pure light is produced by the 

 ignition and conversion of the three original gases, from the 

 iixcd to the radiant state, by their combination in the follow- 

 ing relative proportions in weight and measure, and constitute 

 perfect white or celestial light. 



Vol. I Nitrogen 1 Vol. | Hydrogen 

 5. 14. 3. ' 1. 



Vol. 



8. 



Oxygen 



by \vt. 16. 



J 



The order of polarity exercised in the formation of light is 

 constant and invariable, being by the positive pole of the 

 oxygen, with the negative poles of the nitrogen and hydrogen, 

 uniting at the centre of the spherical compound molecule, or 

 corpuscular atom of light. The chemical qualities of the solar 

 ray and of terrestrial light are in some respects evidently dis- 

 similar while the former exerts a power which dissipates 

 GOLD, and reduces its constituents to the elastic or gaseous 

 state. Terrestrial light can exercise no power whatever, be- 

 yond the simple reduction of the noble metal to the liquid 

 state*. 



This must be imputable to the introduction of carbon in the 

 formation of terrestrial light, which may cause a difference of 

 polarity in the molecules which cannot probably correspond 

 with the polar arrangements peculiar to gold, and may repel 

 instead of attract, the particles, and such light is consequently 



paralysed as to its power to volatilize bodies of such con- 



... .. 

 stitution. 



When the matter of light, however, reverts from the state 

 of radiancy to that of fixation, such transition is effected by 

 a polarity diversified according to the constitution of the/km* 

 lodij by which it is (electively, as to its refracted rays,) absorbed 



* The application of the oxy-hydrogen blow-pipe, with the additional aid 

 of lime (the alkalescent earth), where the presence of nitrogen is evident, may 

 be found to afford (from the intense white light it produces) the solvent and 

 volatilizing powers of the solar rays. 



