Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of Air

Volume 3 (1777) of this three-volume collection presents the groundbreaking early investigations into gases performed by Joseph Priestley (1733-1804).

Preface; Introduction; 1. Of the production of dephlogisticated air from the several metals; 2. Of the phenomena which attend the solution of some of the semi-metals in spirit of nitre; 3. Of the production of dephlogisticated air from earthy substances; 4. An attempt to ascertain the quantity of spirit of nitre, in a given quantity of dephlogisticated air; 5. Observations on respiration, and the use of the blood; 6. Miscellaneous experiments and observations relating to dephlogisticated air; 7. Of the influence of oil of turpentine and spirit of wine on common air; 8. Miscellaneous experiments relating to common air; 9. Of the impregnation of water with nitrous air; 10. Of the absorption of nitrous air by oils, spirit of wine, and caustic alkali; 11. Of the phenomena attending the absorption of nitrous air by acid liquors; 12. Of the processes by which nitrous air is brought into a state in which a candle will burn in it with an enlarged flame; 13. Of the phenomena attending the diminution of nitrous air by iron filings and brimstone; 14. Of the diminution of nitrous air; 15. Of the nitrous acid extracted from nitrous air; 16. Miscellaneous experiments relating to nitrous air; 17. An account of some experiments made in consequence of an attempt to confine the nitrous acid vapour by means of animal oils; 18. Observations on the nitrous acid vapour itself; 19. Of the saturation of water with nitrous vapour; 20. Of the impregnation of oils, and of spirit of wine, with the nitrous vapour; 21. Of the impregnation of the acids, etc., with the nitrous vapour; 22. Of the actions of nitrous vapour upon some solid substances; 23. Various observations relating to the process for making spirit of nitre; 24. Observations relating to the colour and strength of the nitrous acid; 25. Of the effects of the solution of bismuth and of distillation on the nitrous acid; 26. Experiments relating to inflammable air; 27. Observations relating to vitriolic acid air; 28. Observations relating to fluor acid air; 29. Experiments relating to marine acid air; 30. Experiments on the mixture of different kinds of air; 31. Of the effects of fixed air on vegetation, and the colour of rose leaves; 32. Observations relating to the production, or non-production of air; 33. Miscellaneous experiments; 34. Experiments relating to some of the preceding sections, made since they were printed off; Appendix.