[ 235 J 



Tranf. Vol, LVL p. 157. by which, though, he 

 fays, he was not able to get any inflammable air 

 from copper, by means of fpirit of fait, he got a 

 much more remarkable kind of air, viz. one that 

 loft its elafticity by coming into contact with water, 

 I was exceedingly defirous of making myfelf ac- 

 quainted with it. On this account, I began with 

 making the experiment in quickfilver, which I never 

 failed to do in any cafe in which I fufpected that air 

 might either be abforbed by water, or be in any other 

 manner affected by it ; and by this means I prefently 

 got a much more diftinct idea of the nature and 

 effects of this curious folution. 



Having put fome copper filings into a fmall phial, 

 with a quantity of fpirit of fait \ and making the air, 

 which was generated in great plenty, on the appli- 

 cation of heat, afcend into a tall glafs veffel full of 

 quickfilver, and Handing in quickfilver, the whole 

 produce continued a confiderabie time without any 

 change of dimenfions. I then introduced a 

 fmall quantity of water to it, when about three 

 fourths of it (the whole being about four ounce 

 meafures) prefently, but gradually, difappeared, the 

 quickfilver riling in the vefTel. I then introduced a 

 confiderable quantity of water ; but there was no 

 farther diminution of the air, and the remainder I 

 found to be inflammable. 



Having frequently continued this procefs a long 

 time after the admifTion of the water, I was much 

 amufed with obferving the large bubbles of the newly 

 generated air, which came through the quickfilver, 

 the fudden diminution of them when they came to 

 the water, and the very fmall bubbles which went 



H h 2 through 



