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Show 72 Additional Notes. we may conclude that the latter consists of two ethers as well as the former; and that they both, when separated by art or natu:e, combine by chemical affinity when they appr?ach, t:1e one explochng~ and then consisting of a residuum after hav1:1g em1~ted heat. and. hght; and the other producing simply a neutralised flu1d by theiT unwn. XI. Conclusion. 1. When two fluids are diffused together without undergoing any change of their chemical properties, they are said simply to be mixed, and not combined; as milk and water when poured together, or as oxygen and azote in the common atmosphere. So when salt or sugar is diffused in water, it is termed solution, and not combination; as no · change of their chemical properties succeeds. But when an acid is mixed wjth a pure alcali a combination is pro ·duced, and the mixture is said to become neutral, as it does not possess the chemical properties which either of the two ingredients possessed in their separate state, and is therefore similar to neither of them. But when a carbonated alcali, as mild salt of tartar, is mixed with a mineral acid, they presently combine as above, but now the carbonic acid flies forcibly away in the form of gas; this, therefore, may be termed a kind of explosion, but cannot properly be so called, as the ethereal fluids of heat and light are not principally emitted, :but an aerial one or gas; which may .probably acquire .a small quantity .of heat from the combining matters. But when strong acid -of mitre is poured upon. charcoal in nne powder, or upon oil of cloves, a violent explosion ensues, and the . ethereal matters of heat and light are emitted in great abundance, and are dissipated; while in the former instance the oxygen of the nitrous .acid ·unites with the carbone for:ming carbonic acid gas, and the ·azote escapes in its gasseous form; which may be termed a residuum after the explosion, and may be confined in a proper apparatus, which the heat and light cannot; for .the former, if its production be great .and sudden, bursts the vessels, or otherwise it passes slowly through Clzemical Tlleory if Electricity and lJfagnetism. 73 ~ethm; ant d the latter passes through transparent bodies and combines WI opa <:e ones. ' Bt~t where etl~ers only are concerned in an explosion, as the two electn.c ones, whtch are previously difficult to confine in vessels. the repulst~e e~hers of heat and light are given out; and what remai~s is a combmatwn of the two electric ethers; which in this state are attracted by all bodies, and form atmospheres round them. . These com_bined electric atmospheres must possess less heat and hght. after thetr explosion; which they seem afterwards to acquire at the tl?1e they are again se~arate~ from each other, probably from the combmed. heat and. combmcd bo,::,· ht of t]1 e cus h.1 011 an d g 1a ss, or of · the cushton and res~n; by the contact of which they are separated; and not from the diffused heat of them; but no experiments have y:t been made to ascertain this fact, this combination of the VJtreous and resinous ethers may be esteemed the residuum after their explosion. 2. Hence the essence of explosion consists in two bodies wbich are previously unite.d with heat and light, so strongly attracti~g each other, as to set at hberty those two repulsive ethers; but it happens, that these explosive materials cannot generally be brouo-ht into each othe~·'s vicinity .in a s~ate of sufficient density; unless bthey are also previOusly combmecl wtth some other material beside the light and heat above spoken of: as in the nitrous acid, the oxygen is previously combined with azote; and is thus in a condensed state, before it is brought into the contact or vicinity of the carbone; there are however bodies which will slowly explode; or give out heat and light, without being previously combined with other bodies; as phosphorus in the common atmosphere, some dead fish in a certain degree of putridity, and some I iving ins~cts probably by their respiration in tramparent lungs, which is a kind of combustion . But the two electric ethers are condensed by being brought into vicinity with each other with a noncondnctor between them; and thus explode violently, as soon as they communicate, either by rupturing the interposed nonconductor, or by a metallic communication. This curious method of a previous condensation of the two exploding L |