INFLAMMABLE GAS. 255 



proportion consumed by 100 measures of the gas. But, for Experiments 



the reason assigned, we must consider this quantity as rather ^"d observa- 



° tions on the in- 



excessive. flammable gas 



As to the carbonic acid gas formed , we cannot draw any from peat, 

 inference from the quantities obtained in these experiments, be- 

 cause they were made over water ; for that liquid always ab- 

 sorbs a portion of this gas. The portion absorbed is variable, 

 though in general it bears some rolalion to the violence of the 

 detonation and the diminution of bulk produced by it — being 

 always greatest when the diminution of bulk is greatest. But 

 the real quantity of carbonic acid gas formed, can only be 

 ascertained by repeating the experiments over mercury. This, 

 in the present case, was not done, because I considered all the 

 experiments with the double detonation as incapable of deter- 

 mining the objects wiiich I wanted to ascertain. 



From the eight experiments in which such proportions of 

 oxygen were employed, as consumed the greatest part of the 

 gas, by a single combustion, we deduce the following table. 





Measures 

 of Gas coH- 

 sumed. 



Measures 

 of Oxygen 

 consumed. 



Carbonic 

 acid Gas 

 formed. 



Diminution 

 of bulk 

 suppposing 

 the Carbo- 

 nic acid re- 

 moved. 





7 



17.79 



17.21 



1 2 



35 



8 



18.53 



16.47 



10 



35 



9 



16.35 



15 65 



,0 



32 1 



10 



17.60 



18.80 



13.5 



36.5 I 



11 



17.60 



15 69 



17 



39 ^ j 



12 



17.- \ 19.38 



15 



38 1 



13 



17.36 j 18.64- j 13 



36 ! 



U 



17.60 



17.45 1 14 



.7 1 





17.05 



17.41 ' 13.08 



•Average. 





too 1 99.20 ' 74-53 



lAvci age percent. 



u 



