OXIDATIONS OF IRON. 329 



Almost all the combinations into which hidrogen enters are 

 decomposed in the same manner, particularly when they 

 are dissolved in water ; as sulphuretted, phosphuretted, 

 and carburetted hidrog 1. All the vegetable acids likewise 

 are decomposed spontaneously, when they are dissolved in 

 water : and alcohol diluted in water is the same. The at- 

 mospheric air has no more influence in these phenomena, 

 than it has in those of fermentation and putrefaction. Alt 

 these operations require open vessels, because they evolve 

 different gasses, which, if they were confined by any pres- 

 sure whatever, would check the progress of the operation. 



The experiments related in this paper I consider ouly as These experi- 



the outlines of a more extensive and deeper investigation : "^^s lead to 



r , ° ' farther inquiry. 



but as different circumstances have already obliged me to 



defer this research for one twelvemonth,- and it is very 



doubtful how much longer it may be, before 1 shall be able 



to enter upon it, I was desirous of announcing these facts 



to the chemical world. 



Corollaries deduaible from the preceding Facts. 



. 1. All the oxides of iron soluble in acids are red: and Inferences from 

 though their proportion of oxigen varies from 15 per cent 

 to more than 50, they are not distinguishable from each 

 other by any means hitherto employed in chemistry. 



2. The white oxide of iron is a salt with excess of oxide. 



3. The green oxide is not a peculiar oxide, but a hiclru- 

 ret, or a combination of the red oxide with hidrogen. 



4. The atmospheric air has no influence on solutions of 

 iron, at least in the ordinary temperature of the atmos- 

 phere. 



5. The saturation of iron with oxigen in its oxides does 

 not destroy its magnetism, as hitherto has been asserted, 

 Every oxide of iron is magnetic, or may become so without 

 losing an atom of oxigen. 



Note, referred to, p. 224. It has lorig been observed, Magnetism of 

 that the magnetism of iron is weakened or disappears alto- ©"destroyed in 

 gether in its oxides. At different periods this phenomenon its oxides. 



Vol. XVII.— Supplement. X has 



