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The original book was published in two volumes. The format is reproduced for this e-text, except that the author’s preface (originally in Volume I) and the combined index (Volume II) are in this introductory file.

See the end of this file for notes on scientific terminology, spelling, Plates and chapter numbering.

Contents (Chapter titles only)
Volume I: Conversations I-X with detailed Contents
Volume II: Conversations XIII-XXVI with detailed Contents
General Index

# CONVERSATIONS

# ON

# CHEMISTRY;

# IN WHICH

# THE ELEMENTS OF THAT SCIENCE

# ARE

# FAMILIARLY EXPLAINED

# AND

# ILLUSTRATED BY EXPERIMENTS.

# IN TWO VOLUMES.

# The Fifth Edition, revised, corrected, and considerably enlarged.

# LONDON:

# PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN,
PATERNOSTER-ROW.

# 1817.

###### Printed by A. Strahan,
Printers-Street, London.

### ADVERTISEMENT.

The Author, in this fifth edition, has endeavoured to give an account of the principal discoveries which have been made within the last four years in Chemical Science, and of the various important applications, such as the gas-lights, and the miner’s-lamp, to which they have given rise. But in regard to doctrines or principles, the work has undergone no material alteration.

London, July, 1817.

v

### PREFACE.

In venturing to offer to the public, and more particularly to the female sex, an Introduction to Chemistry, the author, herself a woman, conceives that some explanation may be required; and she feels it the more necessary to apologise for the present undertaking, as her knowledge of the subject is but recent, and as she can have no real claims to the title of chemist.

On attending for the first time experimental lectures, the author found it almost impossible to derive any clear or satisfactory information from the rapid demonstrations which are usually, and perhaps necessarily, crowded into popular courses of this kind. But frequent opportunities having vi afterwards occurred of conversing with a friend on the subject of chemistry, and of repeating a variety of experiments, she became better acquainted with the principles of that science, and began to feel highly interested in its pursuit. It was then that she perceived, in attending the excellent lectures delivered at the Royal Institution, by the present Professor of Chemistry, the great advantage which her previous knowledge of the subject, slight as it was, gave her over others who had not enjoyed the same means of private instruction. Every fact or experiment attracted her attention, and served to explain some theory to which she was not a total stranger; and she had the gratification to find that the numerous and elegant illustrations, for which that school is so much distinguished, seldom failed to produce on her mind the effect for which they were intended.

Hence it was natural to infer, that familiar conversation was, in studies of this kind, a most useful auxiliary source of information; vii and more especially to the female sex, whose education is seldom calculated to prepare their minds for abstract ideas, or scientific language.

As, however, there are but few women who have access to this mode of instruction; and as the author was not acquainted with any book that could prove a substitute for it, she thought that it might be useful for beginners, as well as satisfactory to herself, to trace the steps by which she had acquired her little stock of chemical knowledge, and to record, in the form of dialogue, those ideas which she had first derived from conversation.

But to do this with sufficient method, and to fix upon a mode of arrangement, was an object of some difficulty. After much hesitation, and a degree of embarrassment, which, probably, the most competent chemical writers have often felt in common with the most superficial, a mode of division was adopted, which, though the most natural, does not always admit of being viii strictly pursued—it is that of treating first of the simplest bodies, and then gradually rising to the most intricate compounds.

It is not the author’s intention to enter into a minute vindication of this plan. But whatever may be its advantages or inconveniences, the method adopted in this work is such, that a young pupil, who should occasionally recur to it, with a view to procure information on particular subjects, might often find it obscure or unintelligible; for its various parts are so connected with each other as to form an uninterrupted chain of facts and reasonings, which will appear sufficiently clear and consistent to those only who may have patience to go through the whole work, or have previously devoted some attention to the subject.

It will, no doubt, be observed, that in the course of these Conversations, remarks are often introduced, which appear much too acute for the young pupils, by whom ix they are supposed to be made. Of this fault the author is fully aware. But, in order to avoid it, it would have been necessary either to omit a variety of useful illustrations, or to submit to such minute explanations and frequent repetitions, as would have rendered the work tedious, and therefore less suited to its intended purpose.

In writing these pages, the author was more than once checked in her progress by the apprehension that such an attempt might be considered by some, either as unsuited to the ordinary pursuits of her sex, or ill-justified by her own recent and imperfect knowledge of the subject. But, on the one hand, she felt encouraged by the establishment of those public institutions, open to both sexes, for the dissemination of philosophical knowledge, which clearly prove that the general opinion no longer excludes women from an acquaintance with the elements of science; and, on the other, she flattered herself that whilst the impressions made upon her mind, by the wonders x of Nature, studied in this new point of view, were still fresh and strong, she might perhaps succeed the better in communicating to others the sentiments she herself experienced.

The reader will soon perceive, in perusing this work, that he is often supposed to have previously acquired some slight knowledge of natural philosophy, a circumstance, indeed, which appears very desirable. The author’s original intention was to commence this work by a small tract, explaining, on a plan analogous to this, the most essential rudiments of that science. This idea she has since abandoned; but the manuscript was ready, and might, perhaps, have been printed at some future period, had not an elementary work of a similar description, under the tide of “Scientific Dialogues,” been pointed out to her, which, on a rapid perusal, she thought very ingenious, and well calculated to answer its intended object.

### CONTENTS

Page numbers have been retained to give an idea of the relative length of each Conversation.

I.xvi

##### ERRATA.

Vol. I. page 56. | last line but one, for “caloric,” read “calorific.”
179. | Note, for “Plate XII.” r. “Plate XIII.”

363

### INDEX.

Index links lead only to the top of the page, not to the exact item referenced. Some browsers may not display page numbers correctly. If a link seems to lead to the wrong page, the link is right and the visible page number is wrong.

A B C D E F G H IJ K
L M N O P Q R S T V U W Y Z

U, V are alphabetized as shown. J is not separated from I.

A Absorbent vessels, ii. 304 Absorption of caloric, i. 59. 66 Acetic acid, ii. 75. 197 Acetous fermentation, ii. 232 —— acid, ii. 193. 232 Acidulous gaseous mineral waters, ii. 129 —— salts, ii. 200 Acids, i. 262. ii. 69 Aeriform, i. 36 Affinity, i. 19. ii. 1 Agate, ii. 51 Agriculture, ii. 252 Air, i. 182. ii. 262 Albumen, ii. 277. 288 Alburnum, ii. 267 Alchemists, i. 4 Alcohol, or spirit of wine, ii. 215. 222 Alembic, i. 258 Alkalies, ii. 19 Alkaline earths, ii. 50. 58 Alloys, i. 344 Alum, or sulphat of alumine, ii. 55. 95 Alumine, ii. 54 Alumium, i. 13 Amalgam, i. 347 Ambergris, ii. 358 Amethyst, ii. 58 Amianthus, ii. 66 Ammonia, or volatile alkali, i. 363. ii. 20. 35 Ammoniacal gas, ii. 36 Ammonium, i. 13 Analysis, i. 287 —— of vegetables, ii. 165 Animals, ii. 276 Animal acids, ii. 75. 290 —— colours, ii. 292 —— heat, ii. 337 —— oil, ii. 178. 283 Animalization, ii. 276. 297. 315 Antidotes, ii. 41. 87 Antimony, i. 14 Aqua fortis, ii. 105 —— regia, i. 340. ii. 144 Arrack, ii. 220 Argand’s Lamp, i. 208 Arsenic, i. 14. 340. 348 Arteries, ii. 304. 323 Arterial blood, ii. 305. 326. 338 Asphaltum, ii. 240 Assafœtida, ii. 188 Assimilation, ii. 298 Astringent principle, ii. 198 Atmosphere, i. 90. 181. ii. 262 Atmospherical air, i. 182 Attraction of aggregation, or cohesion, i. 16. ii. 2 364 —— of composition, i. 16. ii. 1 Azot, or nitrogen, i. 182, ii. 100 Azotic gas, i. 182 B Index top Balsams, ii. 165. 188 Balloons, i. 245 Bark, ii. 193. 265 Barytes, ii. 44. 58. 61 Bases of acids, i. 263. ii. 69 —— gases, i. 183 —— salts, ii. 5 Beer, ii. 212. 220 Benzoic acid, ii. 74. 197 Bile, ii. 308 Birds, ii. 347 Bismuth, i. 14 Bitumens, ii. 239 Black lead, or plumbago, i. 304 Bleaching, i. 32. ii. 89. 140. Blow-pipe, i. 324. ii. 226 Blood, ii. 306. 317 Blood-vessels, ii. 298 Boiling water, i. 93 Bombic acid, ii. 75. 290 Bones, ii. 298, 299 Boracic acid, i. 365. ii. 131 Boracium, i. 13. ii. 132 Borat of soda, ii. 133 Brandy, ii. 218 Brass, i. 344 Bread, ii. 233 Bricks, ii. 56 Brittle-metals, i. 14 Bronze, i. 341 Butter, ii. 351 Butter-milk, ii. 352 C Index top Calcareous earths, ii. 65 —— stones, ii. 123 Calcium, i. 13 Caloric, i. 12. 33 ——, absorption of, i. 66 ——, conductors of, i. 70 ——, combined, i. 122 ——, expansive power of i. 35 ——, equilibrium of, i. 50 ——, reflexion of, i. 54. 67 ——, radiation of, i. 52. 61 ——, solvent power of, i. 96. 102 ——, capacity for, i. 124 Calorimeter, i. 156 Calx, i. 183 Camphor, ii. 165. 185 Camphoric acid, ii. 74. 197 Caoutchouc, ii. 165. 189 Carbonats, ii. 25. 129 Carbonat of ammonia, ii. 41 —— lead, i. 320 —— lime, ii. 59. 130 —— magnesia, ii. 67 —— potash, ii. 25 Carbonated hydrogen gas, i. 302 Carbon, i. 282. ii. 329 Carbonic acid, i. 290. 359. ii. 327 Carburet of iron, i. 304. 342 Carmine, ii. 295 Cartilage, ii. 303 Castor, ii. 359 Cellular membrane, ii. 311 Caustics, i. 349 Chalk, ii. 62. 123 Charcoal, i. 282 Cheese, ii. 356 Chemical attraction, i. 15. ii. 9 Chemistry, i. 3 Chest, ii. 318 China, ii. 54 Chlorine, i. 214 Chrome, i. 14. 340 Chyle, ii. 305. 317 Chyme, ii. 316 365 Citric acid, ii. 74. 197 Circulation of the blood, ii. 322 Civet, ii. 359 Clay, i. 48. ii. 55 Coke, ii. 241 Coal, ii. 240. 252 Cobalt, i. 14 Cochineal, ii. 295 Cold, i. 50. 58 —— from evaporation, i. 102. 113. 150 Colours of metallic oxyds, i. 319 Columbium, i. 14. 340. 348 Combined caloric, i. 122 Combustion, i. 190 ——, volatile products of, i. 207 ——, fixed products of, i. 207 ——, of alcohol, ii. 225 ——, of ammoniacal gas, ii. 42 ——, of boracium, ii. 133 ——, by oxymuriatic acid or chlorine, ii. 142 ——, of carbon, i. 289 ——, of coals, i. 207. 297 ——, of charcoal by nitric acid, ii. 102 ——, of candles, i. 236. 309. ii. 179 ——, of diamonds, i. 292 ——, of ether, ii. 230 ——, of hydrogen, i. 229. ——, of iron, i. 200. 322 ——, of metals, i. 321 ——, of oils, i. 208. ii. 178. 309 ——, of oil of turpentine by nitrous acid, ii. 6 ——, of phosphorus, i. 272 ——, of sulphur, i. 261 —— of potassium, i. 358. ii. 132. 138, 139 Compound bodies, i. 9. ii. 14 —— or neutral salts i. 333. ii. 4 Conductors of heat, i. 71 ——, solids, i. 73 ——, fluids, i. 78 ——, Count Rumford’s theory, i. 79 Constituent parts, i. 9 Copper, i. 14. 331 Copal, ii. 187. 224 Cortical layers, ii. 265. 267 Cotyledons, or lobes, ii. 256 Cream, ii. 351 Cream of tartar, or tartrit of potash, ii. 200. 222 Cryophorus, i. 154 Crystallisation, i. 338. ii. 47 Cucurbit, i. 258 Culinary heat, i. 88 Curd, ii. 351. 354 Cuticle, or epidermis, ii. 310 D Index top Decomposition, i. 8. 20 —— of atmospherical air, i. 181. 209 —— of water by the Voltaic battery, i. 220 —— of salts by the Voltaic battery, ii. 14 —— of water by metals, i. 225. 334 —— —— by carbon, i. 301 —— of vegetables, ii. 202 —— of potash, i. 356 —— of soda, i. 56 —— of ammonia, i. 363. ii. 37 366 —— of the boracic acid, ii. 132 —— of the fluoric acid, ii. 136 —— of the muriatic acid, ii. 139 Deflagration, ii. 118 Definite proportions, ii. 13 Deliquescence, ii. 95 Detonation, i. 219. ii. 116 Dew, i. 105 Diamond, i. 285 Diaphragm, ii. 320 Digestion, ii. 316 Dissolution of metals, i. 165. 316. 333 Distillation, i. 259. ii. 218 —— of red wine, ii. 218 Divellent forces, ii. 12 Division, i. 7 Drying oils, ii. 181 Dying, ii. 191 E Index top Earths, ii. 44 Earthen-ware, ii. 53. 57 Effervescence, i. 298 Efflorescence, ii. 94 Elastic fluids, i. 37 Electricity, i. 12. 25. 160. 220. ii. 139 Electric machine, i. 169 Elective attractions, ii. 9 Elementary bodies, i. 8. 12 Elixirs, tinctures, or quintessences, ii. 225 Enamel, ii. 57 Epidermis of vegetables, ii. 269 —— of animals, ii. 310 Epsom salts, ii. 63. 95 Equilibrium of caloric, i. 50 Essences, i. 307. ii. 183. 224 Essential, or volatile oils, i. 307. ii. 183 Ether, i. 111. ii. 229 Evaporation, i. 103 Evergreens, ii. 274 Eudiometer, i. 276 Expansion of caloric, i. 36 Extractive colouring matter, ii. 165. 190 F Index top Falling stones, i. 319 Fat, i. 306. ii. 311 Feathers, ii. 300 Fecula, ii. 176 Fermentation, ii. 205 Fibrine, ii. 277. 289 Fire, i. 7. 27 Fish, ii. 346 Fixed air, or carbonic acid, i. 290. ii. 125 —— alkalies, ii. 20 —— oils, i. 307. ii. 165. 177 —— products of combustion, i. 207 Flame, i. 237 Flint, ii. 30. 51 Flower or blossom, ii. 271 Fluoric acid, ii. 54. 134 Fluorium, or Fluorine, i. 12. ii. 136 Formic acid, ii. 290 Fossil wood, ii. 242 Frankincense, ii. 187 Free or radiant caloric, or heat of temperature, i. 33 Freezing mixtures, i. 142 —— by evaporation, i. 104. 150, &c. Frost, i. 94 Fruit, ii. 271 Fuller’s earth, ii. 55 Furnace, i. 304 367 G Index top Galls, ii. 199 Gallat of iron, ii. 98 Gallic acid, ii. 74. 197, 198 Galvanism, i. 163 Gas, i. 182 Gas-lights, i. 240 Gaseous oxyd of carbon, i. 296 —— nitrogen, ii. 111 Gastric juice, ii. 316 Gelatine, or jelly, ii. 277. 280 Germination, ii. 256 Gin, ii. 221 Glands, ii. 298. 307 Glass, ii. 30 Glauber’s salts, or sulphat of soda, ii. 92 Glazing, ii. 57 Glucium, i. 13 Glue, ii. 281. 287 Gluten, ii. 165. 177 Gold, i. 14. 323 Gum, ii. 170 —— arabic, ii. 170 —— elastic, or caoutchouc, ii. 189 —— resins, ii. 165. 188 Gunpowder, ii. 116 Gypsum, or plaister of Paris, or sulphat of lime, ii. 95 H Index top Hair, ii. 300 Harrogate water, i. 268. 341 Hartshorn, ii. 35. 39. 281. 285 Heart, ii. 323 —— wood, ii. 268 Heat, i. 26. 33 —— of capacity, i. 127. 135 —— of temperature, i. 33 Honey, ii. 175 Horns, ii. 282. 300 Hydro-carbonat, i. 241. 303 Hydrogen, i. 214 —— gas, i. 215 IJ Index top Jasper, ii. 51 Ice, i. 138 Jelly, ii. 281 Jet, ii. 240 Ignes fatui, i. 277 Ignition, i. 119 Imponderable agents, i. 12 Inflammable air, i. 215 Ink, ii. 98. 199 Insects, ii. 349 Integrant pans, i. 9 Iridium, i. 14 Iron, i. 14. 319. 328 Isinglass, ii. 194. 285 Ivory black, ii. 295 Iodine, i. 214. ii. 157 K Index top Kali, ii. 34 Koumiss, ii. 356 | L Lac, ii. 358 Lactic acid, ii. 75. 290. 356 Lakes, colours, ii. 190 Latent heat, i. 133 Lavender water, ii. 184. 224 Lead, i. 14. 318. 330 Leather, ii. 193. 287 Leaves, ii. 260 Life, ii. 159. 168 Ligaments, ii. 303 Light, i. 12. 26. ii. 261 Lightning, i. 248 Lime, ii. 59 —— water, ii. 61 368 Limestone, ii. 60 Linseed oil, ii. 178 Liqueurs, ii. 224 Liver, ii. 308 Lobes, ii. 256. 332 Lunar caustic, or nitrat of silver, i. 350. ii. 119 Lungs, ii. 319. 330 Lymph, ii. 304 Lymphatic vessels, ii. 304 M Index top Magnesia, ii. 44. 66 Magnium, i. 13 Malic acid, ii. 74. 197 Malt, ii. 211 Malleable metals, i. 14 Manganese, i. 14. 317 Manna, ii. 176 Manure, ii. 247 Marble, ii. 123 Marine acid, or muriatic acid, ii. 136 Mastic, ii. 187. 224 Materials of animals, ii. 277 —— of vegetables, ii. 165 Mercury, i. 14. 346 ——, new mode of freezing, i. 155. 347 Metallic acids, i. 340 —— oxyds, i. 316 Metals, i. 12. 314 Meteoric stones, i. 342 Mica, ii. 66 Milk, ii. 299. 306. 350 Minerals, i. 315. ii. 44. 158 Mineral waters, i. 296. ii. 129 —— acids, ii. 73 Miner’s lamp, i. 249 Mixture, i. 99 Molybdena, i. 14. 340 Mordant, ii. 165. 192 Mortar, ii. 53. 65 Mucilage, ii. 170 Mucous acid, ii. 74. 171. 197 —— membrane, ii. 311 Muriatic acid, or marine acid, ii. 136 Muriats, ii. 151 Muriat of ammonia, ii. 35. 152 —— lime, i. 100 —— soda, or common salt, ii. 136. 151 —— potash, ii. 138 Muriatium, i. 13 Muscles of animals, ii. 298. 303 Musk, ii. 359 Myrrh, ii. 188 N. Index top Naphtha, i. 357. ii. 240 Negative electricity, i. 25. 161. 185 Nerves, ii. 279. 298. 308 Neutral, or compound salts, i. 333. ii. 4. 22. 69 Nickel, i. 13. 343 Nitre, or nitrat of potash, or saltpetre, ii. 32. 104. 116 Nitric acid, ii. 100 Nitrogen, or azot, i. 181. ii. 100 —— gas, i. 182. 211 Nitro-muriatic acid, or aqua regia, ii. 144 Nitrous acid gas, ii. 101. 106 —— air, or nitrit oxyd gas, ii. 107 Nitrats, ii. 116 Nitrat of copper, ii. 5 —— ammonia, ii. 113. 118 —— potash, or nitre, or saltpetre, ii. 32. 104. 116 —— silver, or lunar caustic, ii. 19 Nomenclature of acids, i. 264. ii. 69 —— compound salts, ii. 4. 22 369 —— other binary compounds, i. 278 Nut-galls, ii. 98. 199 Nut-oil, ii. 178 Nutrition, ii. 297 O Index top Ochres, i. 320 Oils, i. 285. ii. 306 Oil of amber, ii. 241 —— vitriol, or sulphuric acid, ii. 80 Olive oil, ii. 178 Ores, i. 315 Organized bodies, ii. 159 Organs of animals, ii. 290. 310 —— vegetables, ii. 159. 265. 271 Osmium, i. 14. 348 Oxalic acid, ii. 74. 197 Oxyds, i. 198 Oxyd of manganese, i. 117. 317 —— iron, i. 204. 319 —— lead, i. 319 —— sulphur, ii. 91 Oxydation, or oxygenation, i. 196 Oxygen, i. 11. 181. 201. 211 —— gas, or vital air, i. 182. 201 Oxy-muriatic acid, ii. 140 Oxy-muriats, ii. 153 Oxy-muriat of potash, ii. 155 P Index top Palladium, i. 13. 348 Papin’s digester, i. 120. ii. 284 Parenchyma, ii. 256. 266 Particles, i. 16 Pearlash, ii. 24 Peat, ii. 242 Peculiar juice of plants, ii. 268 Perfect metals, i. 14. 324 Perfumes, i. 308. ii. 183 Perspiration, ii. 333. 329 Petrification, ii. 237 Pewter, i. 344 Pharmacy, i. 14 Phosphat of lime, ii. 99. 299 Phosphorated hydrogen gas, i. 277 Phosphorescence, i. 29 Phosphoric acid, i. 273. ii. 99 Phosphorous acid, i. 274. ii. 99 Phosphorus, i. 270 Phosphoret of lime, i. 278. 341 —— sulphur, i. 279. 341 Pitch, ii. 187 Plaster, ii. 65 Platina, i. 14. 323 Plating, i. 345 Plumbago, or black lead, i. 304 Plumula, ii. 257 Porcelain, ii. 56 Positive electricity, i. 25. 161. 185 Potassium, i. 13. 357. ii. 15 Pottery, ii. 56 Potash, i. 356. ii. 22 Precipitate, i. 22 Pressure of the atmosphere, i. 112. 116 Printer’s ink, ii. 144 Prussiat of iron, or prussian blue, ii. 291 —— potash, ii. 291 Prussic acid, ii. 75. 290 Putrid fermentation, ii. 235. 360 Pyrites, i. 341. ii. 97 Pyrometer, i. 38. 42 Q Index top Quick lime, ii. 59 Quiescent forces, ii. 12 370 R Index top Radiation of caloric, i. 52 ——, Prevost’s theory, i. 52 ——, Pictet’s explanations, i. 54 ——, Leslie’s illustrations, i. 61 Radicals, ii. 5. 69 Radicle; or root, ii. 257 Rain, i. 104 Rancidity, ii. 182 Rectification, ii. 223 Reflexion of caloric, i. 54. 64 Reptiles, ii. 349 Resins, ii. 165, 186. 266 Respiration, ii. 317. 326 Reviving of metals, i. 327 Rhodium, i. 14. 348 Roasting metals, i. 316 Rock crystal, ii. 61 Ruby, ii. 53 Rum, ii. 219 Rust, i. 318. 328 S Index top Saccharine fermentation, ii. 208 Sal ammoniac, or muriat of ammonia, ii. 35 —— polychrest, or sulphat of potash, ii. 91 —— volatile, or carbonat of ammonia, ii. 41 Salifiable bases, ii. 5 Salifying principles, ii. 5 Saltpetre, or nitre, or nitrat of potash, ii. 32. 104. 116 Salt, ii. 91 Sand, ii. 30. 51 Sandstone, ii. 51 Sap of plants, ii. 165. 260. 262. 270. 272 Sapphire, ii. 58 Saturation, i. 101. Sapphire, ii. 58 Saturation, i. 101 Seas, temperature of, i. 33. Sebacic acid, ii. 75. 182. 290. 353 Secretions, ii. 307 Seeds of plants, ii. 210. 271 Seltzer water, i. 289. ii. 63. 129 Senses, ii. 310 Silex, or silica, ii. 30. 51 Silicium, i. 13. Silk, ii. 359 Silver, i. 321 Simple bodies, i. 10. 12 Size, ii. 281 Skin, ii. 279. 310. 193 Slakeing of lime, i. 147. ii. 56 Slate, ii. 51. 66 Smelting metals, i. 316 Smoke i. 208 Soap, ii. 24 Soda, i. 363. ii. 33 —— water, i. 299 Sodium, i. 13. 363 Soils, i. 42. ii. 245 Soldering, i. 345 Solubility, ii. 92 Solution, i. 96 —— by the air, i. 102 —— of potash, ii. 28 Specific heat, i. 126 Spermaceti, ii. 358 Spirits, ii. 313 Steam, i. 140. 182 Steel, i. 305 Stomach, ii. 315 Stones, ii. 46 Stucco, ii. 65 Strontites, ii. 44. 68 Strontium, i. 13 Suberic acid, ii. 74. 197 Sublimation, i. 257 Succin, or yellow amber, ii. 241 Succinic acid, ii. 74. 197. 241 Sugar, ii. 165. 174. 208 —— of milk, ii. 355 371 Sulphats, ii. 5. 91 Super oxygenated sulphuric acid, ii. 70. Sulphat of alumine, or alum, ii. 54. 95 —— barytes, ii. 58 —— iron, ii. 96 —— lime, or gypsum, or plaster of Paris, ii. 95 —— magnesia, or Epsom salt, ii. 67. 95 —— potash, or sal polychrest, ii. 91 —— soda, or Glauber’s salts, ii. 92 Sulphur, i. 256 —— flowers of, i. 257 Sulphurated hydrogen gas, i. 165. 268 Sulphurets, i. 341 Sulphurous acid, i. 254. ii. 88 Sulphuric acid, i. 74. ii. 265 Sympathetic ink, i. 354 Synthesis, i. 287 T Index top Tan, ii. 192 Tannin, ii. 165. 192 Tar, ii. 187 Tartarous acid, ii. 74. 197 Tartrit of potash, ii. 222 Teeth, ii. 300 Tellurium, i. 14 Temperature, i. 33 Thaw, i. 158 Thermometers, i. 40 ——, Fahrenheit’s, i. 42 ——, Reaumur’s, i. 42 ——, Centigrade, i. 43 ——, air, i. 44 ——, differential, i. 46 Thunder, i. 248 Tin, i. 14. 344 Titanium, i. 14. 348 Turf, ii. 242 Turpentine, ii. 187 Transpiration of plants, ii. 260 Tungsten, i. 14. 340 V Index top Vapour, i. 36. 49. 93. 182 Vaporisation, i. 103 Varnishes, ii. 187 Vegetables, ii. 158 Vegetable acid, i. 310. ii. 74. 197 —— colours, ii. 190 —— heat, ii. 272 —— oils, ii. 177 Veins, ii. 304. 323. Venous blood, ii. 305. 326. 338 Ventricles, ii. 324 Verdigris, i. 352 Vessels, ii. 304 Vinegar, ii. 232 Vinous fermentation, ii. 212 Vital air, or oxygen gas, i. 182 Vitriol, or sulphat of iron, ii. 81 Volatile oils, i. 307. ii. 165. 183. 224. 269 —— products of combustion, i. 207 —— alkali, i. 363. ii. 20. 35 Voltaic battery, i. 164. 220. 356. ii. 15 U Index top Uranium, i. 14 W Index top Water, i. 215. ii. 262 372 ——, decomposition of, by electricity, i. 200. 225 ——, condensation of, i. 32 —— of the sea, i. 86 ——, boiling, i. 93 ——, solution by, i. 96 —— of crystallisation, i. 339 Wax, i. 309. ii. 180. 358 Whey, ii. 351 Wine, ii. 212 Wood, ii. 267 Woody fibre, ii. 156. 196. 267 Wool, ii. 300 Y Index top Yeast, ii. 234. Yttria, ii. 44. Yttrium, i. 13. Z Index top Zinc, ii. 14. 344 Zirconia, ii. 44 Zirconium, i. 14. Zoonic acid, ii. 75. 220

#### Transcriber’s Notes

##### Terminology

Many scientific terms used in this book are different from today’s standard terminology. The following is not meant as a comprehensive list.

oxy-muriatic acid | chlorine proposed as an element in 1815: see Conversation XIX
“columbium or tantalium” | niobium and tantalum the two elements always occur together, and were not recognized as separate until much later in the 19th century
phosphat of lime | calcium diphosphate or calcium the element calcium was isolated in 1808, but is named only once in this 1817 edition
glucium | beryllium Humphry Davy’s name for the element
muriatic acid | hydrochloric acid but still called “muriatic acid” for some commercial uses
muriat of lime | calcium chloride
oxymuriate of potash | potassium chlorate
muriat of soda | sodium chloride (table salt)
carbonic acid | carbon dioxide

Note also:

simple body, fundamental principle | element
fecula | starch (usually spelled “fæcula”)
spirit of wine | alcohol
philosopher | scientist
arts | industry, manufacture, crafts etc. (seldom “fine arts”)

Some essential concepts relating to living things—photosynthesis, microorganisms, the cell, proteins—are either unknown or not mentioned. The atom theory had been proposed, but not by Humphry Davy; it is not mentioned in this book.

The word “explode” is used at least once in its orginal, figurative sense (“a word that should be exploded in chemistry”) but far more often in its later, concrete one. The word “explosion” is always used concretely (“an explosion, or a detonation as chemists commonly call it”).

##### Calculated Values:

“the point of zero, or the absolute privation of heat, must consequently be 1260 degrees below 32 degrees”

-1228° F. The calculation is based on wrong premises; the correct figure is about -460° F or -273° C.

“Mercury congeals only at seventy-two degrees below the freezing point.”

-40° F, which is also -40° C. This figure is correct, though approximate.

“The proportion stated by Sir H. Davy, in his Chemical Researches, is as 1 to 2.389.”

[ammonia] “consisted of about one part of hydrogen to four parts of nitrogen.... and from the latest and most accurate experiments, the proportions appear to be, one volume of nitrogen gas to three of hydrogen gas”

These and similar calculations involving relative weight and volume make more sense when one knows the elements’ atomic weights. For nitric acid, HNO3, the figures are 1:14:48, giving a proportion closer to 1:3.5. For ammonia, NH3 (not 4), the figures are 14:3.

The first proportion was printed “2,389”. No other decimal numbers occur in the text, but a comma appears once as a thousands separator.

“The oxalic acid, distilled from sorrel, is the highest term of vegetable acidification; for, if more oxygen be added to it, it loses its vegetable nature, and is resolved into carbonic acid and water;”

Oxalic acid = H2C2O4; carbonic acid (carbon dioxide) = CO2. H2C2O4 + O becomes H2O + CO2 + CO2.

##### Chapter Numbering

The 3rd and 4th editions used the same Conversation (chapter) numbering. The apparent disappearance of XI and XII is the result of changes between the 4th and 5th (present text) editions:

Volume I: On Simple Bodies
4th edn. | 5th edn. |
I. II. III. | I. II. III. | No change
IV. | IV. | 4th: On Specific Heat, Latent Heat, and Chemical Heat. 5th: On Combined Caloric, Comprehending Specific Heat and Latent Heat.
| V. | On The Chemical Agencies Of Electricity. Chapter added in 5th edition
V. | VI. | On Oxygen And Nitrogen.
VI. | VII. | On Hydrogen. 5th: new sections on Gas lights and Miner’s Lamp
VII. | VIII. | On Sulphur And Phosphorus. 5th: new section on Decomposition of Sulphur
VIII. | IX. | 4th: On Carbone. 5th: On Carbon.
IX. | X. | On Metals.
X. |  | On Alkalies.
XI. |  | On Earths. Conversations X, XI were moved to Volume II as XIV, XV.
Volume II: On Compound Bodies
4th edn. | 5th edn. |
XII. | XIII. | On The Attraction Of Composition.
| XIV. | On Alkalies.
| XV. | On Earths. Conversations XIV, XV were previously X, XI in Volume I.
XIII. | XVI. | 4th: On Compound Bodies. 5th: On Acids. Most of XIII, On Compound Bodies, became XVI, On Acids. Some introductory material was moved to XIV, On Alkalies.
XIV. | XVII. | 4th: On The Combinations of Oxygen with Sulphur and with Phosphorus; and of the Sulphats And Phosphats. 5th: Of the Sulphuric and Phosphoric Acids: or, The Combinations of ....
XV. | XVIII. | 4th: On The Combination of Oxygen With Nitrogen and with Carbone; and of The Nitrats And Carbonats. 5th: Of The Nitric And Carbonic Acids: Or The Combination ...
XVI. | XIX. | 4th: On Muriatic And Oxygenated Muriatic Acids; and on Muriats. 5th: On The Boracic, Fluoric, Muriatic, and Oxygenated Muriatic Acids; and on Muriats.
XVII. | XX. | On The Nature And Composition Of Vegetables.
Remainder of book: number in 4th edn. + 3 = number in 5th edn.

##### Plates

Most Plates include the following text, engraved in smaller print:

Drawn by the Author / Engraved by Lowry / Published by Longman & Co. Octr. 2nd. 1809.

This date corresponds to the 3rd edition. Plates V, X and XIII—each containing material new to the 5th edition—read only “Lowry sculp.”

##### Inconsistencies and variant spellings

None of these lists are meant to be inclusive. They are typical of variations that were not marked as errors.

Standard spellings throughout the book:

bason, judgment, embrio, volcanos (plural), potatoe (singular)

Inconsistencies:

capitalization of “Fig.” or “fig.”

hyphenization of words such as “oxy-muriatic”

“glauber salt” and “Glauber’s salt” both occur

Variant forms:

opake, opaque

aëriform, aeriform

gasses, gases

phosphoret, phosphuret (but always carburet)

Libya, Lybia

dy(e)ing (from “dye”)

nap(h)tha

pla(i)ster

slak(e)ing

earthen-ware, earthen ware

“sulphurous”, “naphtha” are used in the Contents and the Index; “sulphureous”, “naptha” in the body text

forms in “-xion” (such as “connexion”) appear only in the Contents and the Index

Volume I has more archaic forms than Volume II:

“shew”, “inclose” are sometimes used instead of “show”, “enclose”

“carbone” with final “e” appears in one Plate caption. (In the same plate’s header, the “e” appears to have been removed by the engraver.)

“develope(ment)” is more common in Volume I, “develop(ment)” in Volume II

“-ize” and “-yze” forms (for later “-ise” and “-yse”) are common in Volume I, rare in Volume II except in the Index

The “Dr. Marcet” mentioned in a few footnotes and figure captions is the author’s husband. Humphry Davy (“Sir H. Davy”) was knighted in 1812, between the 3rd and 4th editions of the book.

##### Reminder

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.