Wenzel. 219 



which the affinity of bodies, or their rank in the series, is 

 decided ; and we obtain at once this important advantage 

 that we not only know that the union of a common solvent 

 is greater or less with any body, but also how much 

 greater or less it is, because the difference of the time of 

 solution shows the difference of the combination. There- 

 fore amongst a number of bodies, the combination of one 

 with a common solvent may be considered as a quantity 

 which may be expressed by a fixed number, if we take the 

 smallest in such a series as unity ; and by this means we 

 are able to give a correct explanation of all phenomena." 



' Page 46. " This important question then remains, why 

 a solvent, when it is only moderately diluted, does not in 

 the least attack certain metals, but as soon as another 

 metal is dissolved in it, with which it naturally has a less 

 affinity, a ready solution of the first takes place.' 



' Page 47. " Because here the powers meet which assist 

 each other." 



' Page 72. " The circumstances under which this metal 

 (iron) is dissolved by vitriolic acid are these, that the acid 

 must not be strong. When both unite iron vitriol is formed, 

 which loses the most of its acid in the fire, as well as by 

 frequent solution in water. A small bored cylinder of 

 Styrian steel of 102 grains was put into half an ounce of 

 the spirit of vitriol diluted with an equal quantity of water, 

 exactly as with the zinc experiments ; there remained 46^ 

 grains of steel, arid 55^ grains were dissolved in the half 

 ounce of the spirit of vitriol." 



'Therefore the relation of the hardest steel to the 

 strongest vitriol is 175 : 240. 



' Under Application of the Doctrine of Affinity of Bodies? 

 it is said, " This will best be shown by examples. 



1 Page 450. 



