■21 6 Continuation of the Experiments and Ohfrvatlons 
referable air and the phlogifton of the nitrous air; for it can- 
not proceed from the nitrous acid, as this acid is not decom- 
pofed, but is taken up by the water over which the mixture of 
both airs is made, as Mr. bewly has undeniably proved : and 
hence it is, that unlefs a large quantity of lime-water be ufed 
f 0 2S to contain enough f©r both the nitrous and aerial acids to 
on, there will be no precipitation of lime, as Mr. fontana 
has obferved ; for the nitrous acid will feize on the lime pre- 
ferably to the aerial. Dr. priestley indeed obferved, that if 
a bladder, filled with nitrous air, be dipped in lime-water, it 
occafions a precipitation of lime or the furface of the water, 
i pr. 213. But he elfewhere acknowledges, that this pro- 
ceeds from the inability of the bladder to confine nitrous air. 
1 pr. 76. and 128, which Mr. baume alfo long ago obferved, 
without knowing any thing more of this air. baume fur 
p father , 285. The phlogifton paffes through the bladder, 
and unites to the common air contiguous to it*. Befides, 
nitrous air afts on the bladder itfelf, and extracts fixed air from 
it. 1 PR. 214. Hence alfo, if rain-water carefully boiled, and 
freed from its own air, be made to abforb a quantity of nitrous 
air, it will again, on boiling, yield it back as pure as at firft ; 
but if common water be made to imbibe nitrous an in the 
fame manner, it will, on boiling, yield alfo a portion of fixed 
air. 3 pr. 109. Does not this happen clearly becaufe common 
water contains atmofpheric air, or air fomewhat purer, which 
is converted into fixed air by mixture with the nitrous air ? 
This experiment alfo fhews, that water itfelf never unites to 
phlogifton, fince it does not take any from nitrous air, where 
the union of phlogifton to the acid is of the laxeft kind. 
6 
* 3 PR. 156. 
Thirdly, 
