Analyfis of the Air. 315 
Tho* the force of its elafticity is fo great, 
as to be able to bear a prodigious preffurc, 
without lofing that elafticity, yet we have 
from the foregoing Experiments evident 
proof, that its elafticity is eafily, and in great 
abundance deftroyed ; and is thereby reduced 
to a fixt ftate, by the ftrong attradion of the 
acid fulphureous particles, which arife either 
from fire or from fermentation : And there- 
fore elafticity is not an eflential immutable 
property of air particles ; but they are, w^e 
fee, eafily changed from an elaftick to a fixt 
ftate, by the ftrong attradion of the acid, ful- 
phureous and faline particles which abound 
in the air. Whence it is rcafonable to con- 
clude, that our atmofphere is a ChaoSy con- 
fifting not only of elaftick, but alfo of un- 
elaftick air particles, which in great plenty 
float in it, as well as the fulphureous, fa- 
line, watry and earthy particles, which are 
no ways capable of being thrown off into a 
permanently elaftick ftate, like thofe parti- 
cles which conftitute true permanent air. 
Since then air is found fo manifeftly to 
abound in almoft all natural bodies j fince 
we find it fo operative and adive a principle 
in every chymical operation, fince its con- 
ftituent 
