224 Continuation of the Experiments and Ohfervations 
pitated from it as ufual. 2 pr. 219. A circumftance which at 
that time was thought inexplicable, and which indeed is fo, 
on any other principles but thofe here laid down, of which it 
is an immediate confequence. 
Having thus far fynthetically proved the conftituent parts 
of fixed air to be pure elementary air and phlogifton, I fhall 
now endeavour to do the fame by its analyfis : and, in the firft 
place, that it contains phlogifton, and even in fuch quantity as 
to deferve to be clafled among the phlogifticated acids, appears 
by its a&ion on black manganefe . This femi-metallic calx, as 
has been proved by that admirable chemift Mr. scheele, is 
completely foluble only in phlogifticated acids, and is precipi- 
table from them by fixed alkalies in the form of a white calx. 
He alfo found, that this manganefe is alfo foluble in water 
ftrongly impregnated with fixed air, and is alfo precipitable 
from it in the form of a white calx. 35 Mem. Stock, p. 96. 
If fixed air be repeatedly diffolved in, and expelled from wa- 
ter, it leaves each time a refiduum which is infoluble in water, 
diminifhable by nitrous air, and capable of fupporting animal 
life. Hence it is evidently decompol'ed, the phlogifton fepa- 
rating from it, and gradually uniting to the common atmo- 
fphere by reafon of the repulftve power betwixt it and water. 
Dr. priestley indeed found, that a candle would not burn in 
it ; but this arifes only from a mixture of a fmall quantity of 
fixed air not yet decompofed, of which, according to the expe- 
riments of Mr. cavendish, one-ninth is fufficient to extin- 
guifh a. candle *. 
Again, Mr. achard has converted fixed air into air of nearly 
the fame purity as common air by pafling it five or fix times 
through melted .nitre. Mem. Berlin. 1778. Mr. cavallo 
* 1 PR. 34. 40. Z TR. 2 U), 220. 
6 
palled 
