46 
SECT. X. 
v. the composition of fixed air. 
Thus, by a length of years, and change of fate. 
All things are light or heavy, small or great; 
Hence Jordan’s waves shall future clouds appear. 
And Lebanon’s tall Cedars turn to air. 
Prior. 
SYNTHESIS 
o p 
CARBONIC ACID AIR, OR FIXED AIR; 
Or the Union of its v l. CHARCOAL, and 
2 Constituent Parts, J 2 . OXYGEN AIR. 
As the composition of fixed air is easiest understood by Synthesis, we shall 
only mention, that if wood, or Charcoal, be burnt in oxygen air, it will be 
converted into an acid gao* whose weight will equal the sum of the weighU 
of the charcoal which has been consumed, and the oxygen air employed.4 
The properties offxed air are these; a candle or light is instantly extinguished in it, it soon de- 
stroys animal life, is heavier than either oxygen or common air, is quickly imbibed by water, giving 
to it the sparkling appearance, and taste, of Seltzer or Pyrmont water. 
f Prom our experiment we find, that fixed air is composed of 28 parts of charcoal to 72 of 
oxygen air ; or, in other words, 144 cubic inches of that air will saturate, or take up, 28 grains of 
charcoal. 
