[ 24 ° ] 
prized me ; for, the marine acid being reckoned tilt 
weakeft of the three mineral acids, 1 did not think 
that it had been capable of diflodging the oil of 
vitriol from this fubftance; but I found that it had 
the very fame effedt both upon alum and nitre ; the 
vitriolic acid in the former cafe, and the nitrous in 
the latter, giving place to the flronger vapour of 
Ipirit of fait. 
The ruff of iron, and the precipitate of nitrous air 
made from copper, alfo imbibed this vapour very 
faff, and the little that remained of it was inflam- 
mable air j which proves, that thefe calces con- 
tain phlogifton. It ieems alfo to be pretty evi- 
dent, from this experiment, that the precipitate 
above-mentioned is a real calx of the metal, by the 
folution of which the nitrous air is generated. 
As fome remarkable circumflances attend the ab- 
farption of this vapour of fpirit of fait, by the fub- 
ftances above-mentioned, I ihall briefly mention 
them. 
Spirit of wine abforbs this vapour as readily as 
water itfelf, and is increafed in bulk by that means. 
Alfo, when it is faturated, it diiTolves iron with -as 
much rapidity, and ftill continues inflammable. 
Oil of olives abforbs this vapour very flowly, and, 
at the fame time, it turns almofl: black, and becomes 
glutinous. It is alfo lefs mifcible with water, and 
acquires a very difagreeable fmell. By continuing 
upon the furface of the water, it became white, and 
its offenfive fmell went oft in a few days. 
Oil of turpentine abforbed this vapour very faff, 
turning brown, and almofl black. No inflammable 
air was formed, till I railed more of the vapour than 
the 
