436 Miscellaneous

I then repeated the experiment by throw-up a quantity of common air, and exposingit to heat mixed with the vapour of quick-silver, and let it continue in that state fouror five hours. After this I perceived thatthe air was considerably diminished in bulk;and, examining it, I found that one mea-sure of it and one of nitrous air occupiedthe space of 1.66 measures. The air,therefore, in the former experiment, nothaving been pure air, is no proof of itshaving been incorporated with the quick-silver i since common air mixed with it, inthe state of vapour, receives phlogistonfrom it. This proves that, like othermetals, quicksilver is disposed to part withphlogiston to the air when it is hot. Query,what becomes of the calx of mercury towhich the discharged phlogiston belonged ?

4. Of the Mixture of the Vitriolic andthe Nitrous Acids.

Because a mixture of nitrous acid willdischarge the black colour from phlogisti-cated vitriolic acid, Mr. Beaume infers

that