An examination of Dr. Crawford's theory of heat and combustion / by William Morgan.
- William Morgan
- Date:
- 1781
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: An examination of Dr. Crawford's theory of heat and combustion / by William Morgan. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.
71/78 page 67
![I do not think that the decompofitions here mentioned are ftridtly confonant with the laws of the eleclive attra&ions of bodies.—The affinity of acids to phlogifton has been generally underllood to be much Wronger than it is to metals of any kind. But Dr. C. by fuppofing the iron in the prefent inftance to decompofe the fulphur, feems to be of a contrary opinion.— Admitting this to be the cafe; may it not be doubted whether the air, which is faid to be diffuled through the Jubilance of the earth, is the caufe of thofe phenomena; efpecially con- fidering that fo very fmall a portion of it can be fuppofed to come in contact with the mix- ture ? How comes it to pafs, if the noife and commotion depend on the decompolition of the air, that the fame effedts are not produced when this mixture is placed in a large jar of air having its mouth immerfed in water ? Might it not be expedted on Dr. C.’s principles, that the air in thofe circumftances would be greatly expanded, and in confequence force the water out of the jar with confiderable violence ? We know however tnat no fuch effedls are pro- duced ; and that though the air is heated, it ii fo far from .being expanded by the iron filings and fulphur, that it is diminished a fourth, * or •See Dr. Prieftley’s Experiments on air, Vo], i. fed. 6. K 2 even](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21513958_0073.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
