ABSORPTION OP THE GASES. - 2^7 



particles in the water is twice that without; in oxygenous gas, Remdrks on'" • 

 &c. the diftance is juft three times as great within as without; forlffoTo^f gafes 

 and in azotic, &c. it is four times. This fa6l was the refult by dcnfe fluids, 

 of my own enquiry. The former of thefe, I think, decides ^'^^ 

 the effe6i to be mechanical ; and the latter feems to point to 

 the principle on whicii the equilibrium is adjufted. 



The fa6ls noticed in the 4-th, 5lh and 6th articles, were in- 

 veftigated a priori from the mechanical hypothefis, and the 

 notion of the diftindl agency of elaftic fluids when mixed to- 

 gether. The refults were found entirely to agree with both, 

 or as nearly as could be expefled from experiments of fuch 

 nature. 



The fa6^s mentioned in the 7th article are of great im- 

 portance in a theoretic view ; for, if the quantity of gas ab- 

 iorbed depend upon mechanical principles, it cannot be af- 

 fefled by temperature in confined air, as the mechanical effedl 

 of the- external and internal air are alike increafed uy heat, 

 and the denfity not at all afFeded in thofe circumftances. I 

 have tried the experiments in a confiderable variety of tem- 

 perature without perceiving any deviation from the principle. 

 It deferves further attention. 



If water be, as pointed out by this eflay, a mere receptacle 

 of gafes, it cannot affect their atSnities: hence what is ob- 

 ferved in the 8th article is too obvious to need explanation. — 

 And if we find the abforption of gafes to arife not from a che- 

 mical but a mechanical caufe, it may be expefled that all li- 

 quids having an equal fluidity with water, will abforb like por- 

 tions of gas. In feveral liquids I have tried, no perceptible 

 difference has been found; but this deferves further invefti- 

 gation. 



After what has been obferved, it feems unnecefiary to add 

 any explanation of the iOlh and following articles. 



Theory of the Abjm-pt.on of Gafes by Watsr, ^c. 

 From the fa6ls developed in the preceding articles, the fol- 

 lowing theory of the abforption of gafes by water feems de- 

 ducible. 



1. AIL gafes that enter into water and other liquids by means 

 of prefigure, and are wholly difengaged again by the removal 

 of that prelfure, are mechanically mixed with the liquid, and 

 ncyt chemically combined with it, 



2. Gafes 



