ELASTIC FLUIES; ^2,79 



It h, therefore, the fubje6l of the following experiments Inquiry by ex- 

 to afcertain whether two elaftic fluids brought Into contaa, Siel^^he'^ctn? 

 could intermix wilh each other, independently of agitation, trary. 

 The refult feems to give it in the affirmative beyond a doubt, 

 contrary to the fuggeftion of Dr. Prieftley; and eftabliihes 

 this remarkable fa6i, that a lighter daftic Jiuid cannot reft 

 upon a heavier, as is (he cafe with liquids ; but, they are con- 

 Itantly adlive in dt(i"u(ing themfelves through each other till an 

 equilibrium is efFeded, and that without any regard to their 

 fpeci/ic gravity, except fo far as it accelerates or retards the 

 elfe6t, according to circumftances. 



The only apparatus found neceffary was a few phials, and Apparatus. 

 tubes with perforated corks ; the tube moftly ufed was one 

 ten inches long, and of ~ inch bore ; in fome cafes a tube 

 of 30 inches in length and \ inch bore was ufed ; the phials 

 held the gafes that were fabje6ts of experiment and the tube 

 formed the conne6lion. In all cafes, the heavier gas was in 

 the under phial, and the two were placed In a perpendicular 

 pofition, and fuffered to remain fo during the experiment in a 

 ftate of reft; thus circumftanced it is evident that the effedl of 

 agitation was fufficicntly guarded againfi ; for,- a tube al- 

 inoft capillary and ten inches long, could not be inftrumental 

 in progagating an intermixture from a momentary commotion 

 at the commencement of each experiment, 



FIRST CLASS. 



Carbonic Acid Gas, xoith Atmofpheric Air^ H7/drogenous, 

 Azotic and Nitrous Gafes. 



1. A pint phial filled with carbonic acid gas, the 30 inch Carbonic add 

 tube and an ounce phial, the tube and fmall vial being filled t^j^,. ' '^ 

 with common air, were ufed at fin'L In one hour the fmall 

 phial was removed, and had acquired no fenfible quantity of 

 acid gas, as appeared from agitating lime water in it. In 

 three hours it had the acid gas in great plenty, infiantly making 

 lime water milky. After this it was repeatedly removed in 

 the fpace of half an hour, and never failed to exhibit figns of 

 the acid gas. Things remaining juft the fani'e, the upper 

 phial was filled with the di^*rent gafes mentioned above re- 

 peatedly, and in half an hour there was always found acid 

 fufficient to make the phial | filled with lime water quite 

 X 2 milky. 



