on the Absorption of Carbonic Acid Gas by Liquids. 99 
tinguished chemists referred to, were not adapted to an accurate 
determination of the absorbent power of liquids. To be capable 
of precise results, the absorbing apparatus must fulfill the follow- 
ing conditions :— 
irst. It must provide means for maintaining the temperature 
uniform throughout the experimen 
Second. It must maintain the tension of the gas unaltered. 
Third. It must afford means for rapid and continuous agita- 
tion of the liquid with the 
Fourth. The tube in otek the absorption is measured by the 
mercurial column, must be apart from the vessel in which the 
absorption occurs, and the mercury must not be introduced into 
that vessel. 
In view of these requisites we were led, after many unsatisfac- 
tory trials with other arrangements, to the form of apparatus rep- 
consistent results seldom varying in successive trials, to the 
extent of one per cent., and which is equally applicable to all 
liqui 
Absorption Apparatus.—This consists of a meter A, 
plunged in a large wooden reservoir B, containing ox to the 
level indicated in the figure, adjoining which is a smaller but 
taller reservoir C, of glass, also containing water. In the latter 
above, a syphon-shaped measuring tube with a finely graduated 
cale between the limbs. A horizontal arm of thick barometer 
tube extending from the top of this, is united by a short gum- 
elastic joint, with a similar tube which bends down over the edge 
of the frame and is inserted below into the actual opening of the 
absorption flask D. Cylinder thermometers graduated to tenths 
of a degree are placed in the gasometer, large and small reservoir, 
and flask. [Figure 2 is a larger view of the flask. 
The main reservoir, charged as indicated in the figure, contains 
five thousand six hundred cubic inches of water, the smaller one, 
of glass, six hundred cubic inches, and the gasometer three hun- 
dred cubic inches. ‘The large volume of water in the reservoirs, 
against any variation of temperature in the gas, shiett mi ht 
arise from the reaction of the materials in the gasometer. Th 
gas will thus in all cases have the npr of the main res- 
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