| [
CONVERSATION I.] | |
| ON THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CHEMISTRY. | Page 1 |
| Connexion between Chemistry and Natural
Philosophy.—Improved State of modern Chemistry.—Its use in
the Arts.—The general Objects of Chemistry.—Definition of
Elementary Bodies.—Definition of Decomposition.—Integrant
and Constituent Particles.—Distinction between Simple and Compound
Bodies.—Classification of Simple Bodies.—Of Chemical
Affinity, or Attraction of Composition.—Examples of Composition
and Decomposition. | |
| [
CONVERSATION II.] | |
| ON LIGHT AND HEAT. | 26 |
| Light and Heat capable of being separated.—Dr. Herschel’s
Experiments.—Phosphorescence.—Of Caloric.—Its two
Modifications.—Free Caloric.—Of the three
different States of Bodies, solid, fluid, and aeriform.—Dilatation
of solid Bodies.—Pyrometer.—Dilatation of
Fluids.—Thermometer.—Dilatation of Elastic Fluids.—Air
Thermometer.—Equal Diffusion of Caloric.—Cold a Negative
Quality.—Professor Prevost’s Theory of the Radiation of
Heat.—Professor Pictet’s Experiments on the Reflexion of
Heat.—Mr. Leslie’s Experiments on the Radiation of
Heat. | |
| [
CONVERSATION III.] | |
| CONTINUATION OF THE SUBJECT. | 70 |
| Of the different Power of Bodies to conduct Heat.—Attempt
to account for this Power.—Count Rumford’s Theory of the
non-conducting Power of Fluids.—Phenomena of Boiling.—Of
Solution in general.—Solvent Power of Water.—Difference
between Solution and Mixture.—Solvent Power of Caloric.—Of
Clouds, Rain, Dr. Wells’ theory of Dew, Evaporation,
&c.—Influence of Atmospherical Pressure on
Evaporation.—Ignition. | |
| [
CONVERSATION IV.] | |
| ON COMBINED CALORIC, COMPREHENDING SPECIFIC HEAT
AND LATENT HEAT. | 122 |
| Of Specific Heat.—Of the different Capacities of Bodies for
Heat.—Specific Heat not perceptible by the Senses.—How to be
ascertained.—Of Latent Heat.—Distinction between Latent and
Specific Heat.—Phenomena attending the Melting of Ice and the
Formation of Vapour.—Phenomena attending the Formation of Ice, and
the Condensation of Elastic Fluids.—Instances of Condensation, and
consequent Disengagement of Heat, produced by Mixtures, by the Slaking
of Lime.—General
Remarks on Latent Heat.—Explanation of the Phenomena of Ether
boiling, and Water freezing, at the same Temperature.—Of the
Production of Cold by
Evaporation.—Calorimeter.—Meteorological Remarks. | |
| [
CONVERSATION V.] | |
| ON THE CHEMICAL AGENCIES OF ELECTRICITY. | 160 |
| Of Positive and Negative Electricity.—Galvani’s
Discoveries.—Voltaic Battery.—Electrical
Machine.—Theory of Voltaic Excitement. | |
| [
CONVERSATION VI.] | |
| ON OXYGEN AND NITROGEN. | 181 |
| The Atmosphere composed of Oxygen and Nitrogen in the State of
Gas.—Definition of Gas.—Distinction between Gas and
Vapour.—Oxygen essential to Combustion and
Respiration.—Decomposition of the Atmosphere by
Combustion.—Nitrogen Gas obtained by this Process.—Of
Oxygenation in general.—Of the Oxydation of Metals.—Oxygen
Gas obtained from Oxyd of Manganese.—Description of a Water-Bath
for collecting and preserving Gases.—Combustion of Iron Wire in
Oxygen Gas.—Fixed and volatile Products of
Combustion.—Patent Lamps.—Decomposition of the Atmosphere by
Respiration.—Recomposition of the Atmosphere. | |
| [
CONVERSATION VII.] | |
| ON HYDROGEN. | 214 |
| Of Hydrogen.—Of the Formation of Water by the Combustion of
Hydrogen.—Of the Decomposition of Water.
—Detonation of Hydrogen Gas.—Description of Lavoisier’s
Apparatus for the formation of Water.—Hydrogen Gas essential to
the Production of Flame.—Musical Tones produced by the Combustion
of Hydrogen Gas within a Glass Tube.—Combustion of Candles
explained.—Gas lights.—Detonation of Hydrogen Gas in Soap
Bubbles.—Air Balloons.—Meteorological Phenomena ascribed to
Hydrogen Gas.—Miner’s Lamp.
The final two pages of the Table of Contents for Volume I were
missing from the available text; everything after “Decomposition of
Water” was supplied from earlier and later editions, compared against
the body text. The section marked “Diamond” (Conv. IX) was called
“Diamond is
Carbon(e) in a state of perfect purity” in the 4th edn., “Diamond”
alone in later editions.
| |
| [
CONVERSATION VIII.] | |
| ON SULPHUR AND PHOSPHORUS. | 256 |
| Natural History of
Sulphur.—Sublimation.—Alembic.—Combustion of Sulphur
in Atmospheric Air.—Of Acidification in
general.—Nomenclature of the Acids.—Combustion of Sulphur in
Oxygen Gas.—Sulphuric Acid.—Sulphurous
Acid.—Decomposition of Sulphur.—Sulphurated Hydrogen
Gas.—Harrogate, or Hydro-sulphurated
Waters.—Phosphorus.—History of its Discovery.—Its
Combustion in Oxygen Gas.—Phosphoric Acid.—Phosphorus
Acid.—Eudiometer.—Combination of Phosphorus with
Sulphur.—Phosphorated Hydrogen Gas.—Nomenclature of Binary
Compounds.—Phosphoret of Lime burning under Water. | |
| [
CONVERSATION IX.] | |
| ON CARBON. | 282 |
| Method of obtaining pure Charcoal.—Method of making common
Charcoal.—Pure Carbon not to be obtained by
Art.—Diamond.—Properties of Carbon.—Combustion of
Carbon.—Production of Carbonic Acid Gas.—Carbon susceptible
of only one Degree of Acidification.—Gaseous Oxyd of
Carbon.—Of Seltzer Water and other Mineral
Waters.—Effervescence.—Decomposition of Water by
Carbon.—Of Fixed and Essential Oils.—Of the Combustion of
Lamps and Candles.—Vegetable Acids.—Of the Power of Carbon
to revive Metals. | |
| [
CONVERSATION X.] | |
| ON METALS. | 314 |
| Natural History of Metals.—Of Roasting, Smelting,
&c.—Oxydation of metals by the Atmosphere.—Change of
Colours produced by different degrees of Oxydation.—Combustion of
Metals.—Perfect Metals burnt by Electricity only.—Some
Metals revived by Carbon and other Combustibles.—Perfect Metals
revived by Heat alone.—Of the Oxydation of certain Metals by the
Decomposition of Water. Power of Acids to promote this
Effect.—Oxydation of Metals by Acids.—Metallic Neutral
Salts.—Previous oxydation of the Metal
requisite.—Crystallisation.—Solution distinguished from
Dissolution.—Five metals susceptible of
acidification.—Meteoric Stones.—Alloys, Soldering, Plating,
&c.—Of Arsenic, and of the caustic Effects of Oxygen.—Of
Verdigris, Sympathetic Ink, &c.—Of the new Metals discovered
by Sir H. Davy. | |