formed by the combustion of one pound of charcoal, we find that the
quantity of caloric necessary for changing one pound of carbonic acid
from the concrete to the gasseous state, would be capable of melting 20
libs. 15 oz. 5 gros of ice.
We may make a similar calculation with the combustion of hydrogen gas
and the consequent formation of water. During the combustion of one
pound of hydrogen gas, 5 libs. 10 oz. 5 gros 24 grs. of oxygen
gas are absorbed, and 295 libs. 9 oz. 3-1/2 gros of ice are
melted. But 5 libs. 10 oz. 5 gros 24 grs. of oxygen gas, in
changing from the aeriform to the solid state, loses, according to the
experiment with phosphorus, enough of caloric to have melted 377 libs.
12 oz. 3 gros of ice. There is only disengaged, from the same
quantity of oxygen, during its combustion with hydrogen gas, as much
caloric as melts 295 libs. 2 oz. 3-1/2 gros; wherefore there
remains in the water at Zero (32 ), formed, during this experiment, as
much caloric as would melt 82 libs. 9 oz. 7-1/2 gros of ice.
Hence, as 6 libs. 10 oz. 5 gros 24 grs. of water are formed from
the combustion of one pound of hydrogen gas with 5 libs. 10 oz. 5
gros 24 grs. of oxygen, it follows that, in each pound of water, at
the temperature of Zero, (32 ), there exists as much caloric as would
melt 12 libs. 5 oz. 2 gros 48 grs. of ice, without taking into
account the quantity originally contained in the hydrogen gas, which we
have been obliged to omit, for want of data to calculate its quantity.
From this it appears that water, even in the state of ice, contains a
considerable quantity of caloric, and that oxygen, in entering into that
combination, retains likewise a good proportion.
From these experiments, we may assume the following results as
sufficiently established.
_Combustion of Phosphorus._
From the combustion of phosphorus, as related in the foregoing
experiments, it appears, that one pound of phosphorus requires 1 lib.
8 oz. of oxygen gas for its combustion, and that 2 libs. 8 oz. of
concrete phosphoric acid are produced.
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