A Dissertation on Elective Attractions, Volumes 1-2

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J. Murray, 1785 - Chemical affinity - 382 pages
 

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Page xx - ... have an attraction ; suppose further A combined with c to saturation (this union I shall call Ac) should upon the addition of b tend to unite with it to the exclusion of c, A is then said to attract b more strongly than c, or to have a stronger elective attraction for it; lastly let the union of Ab on the addition of a be broken, let b be rejected, and a chosen in its place, it will follow that a exceeds b in attractive power, and we shall have a series a, b, c in respect of efficacy.
Page xvii - Considering the vast distance, we may neglect the diameters and look upon the heavenly bodies, in most cases, as gravitating points. But contiguous bodies are to be regarded in a very different light; for the figure and situation, not of the whole only, but of the parts, produce a great variation in the effects of attraction.
Page 62 - I know with certainty that the slight sketch now proposed will require above 30,000 exact experiments before it can be brought to any degree of perfection. But when I reflected on the shortness of life, and the instability of health, I resolved to publish my observations, however defective, lest they should perish with my papers, and I shall relate them as briefly as possible.
Page xviii - In this dissertation I shall endeavour to determine the order of attractions according to their respective force ; but a more accurate measure of each, which might be expressed in numbers and which would throw great light on the whole of this doctrine, is as yet a desideratum." The meaning to be attached to the terms "order of attractions...
Page 272 - Siberia by the natural cold. la its common ftate, therefore, it is to be eonfidered as a metal in fufi;on ; and fince, in its folid ftate, it is nearly as malleable as lead, it by no means ought to be placed among the femimetals, 'Otherwife the whole elafs muft be con' fidered, • fidered as brittle, for none is malleable when in fufion.
Page 20 - ... of a new portion of phlogifton, it is felf-evident, as well as conformable to experiment, that this cannot be effected by the addition of calces. If therefore ochre be put into a folution of vitriol of copper, no copper will be precipitated ; but iron added to the folution is foon obferved to be covered with a cupreous pellicle ; for it yields part of its phlogifton, which...
Page xix - But heterogeneous fubftances, when mixed together, and left to themfelves to form combinations, are influenced by difference of quality rather than of quantity. This we call attraction of...
Page i - Englifli reader would be abundantly ferved by a faithful tranflation of this admirable manual of theoretical Chemiftry. His duty plainly forbad him to alter or fupprefs any thing ; and his reverence for the great author deterred him from the thought of making any addition. But fome time has elapfed...
Page 252 - ... and by no means to friction in a body full of liquids. Animals without lungs have their temperature depending on that of the medium in which they live ; to us they feel cold, not to adduce any more proofs of the efficacy of the air.
Page 310 - ... acid was repeated, as long as the liquor retained any vifcidity, or any red vapours arofe, in which four ounces of nitrous acid were confumed in all, and the quantity of faccharine acid obtained was four drachms, two fcruples.

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