(still called “muriatic acid” for some commercial uses)
muriat of lime = calcium chloride
oxymuriate of potash = potassium chlorate
muriat of soda = sodium chloride (table salt)
carbonic acid = carbon dioxide
Note also:
simple body, fundamental principle = element
fecula = starch (usually spelled “fæcula”)
spirit of wine = alcohol
philosopher = scientist
arts = industry, manufacture, crafts etc. (seldom “fine arts”)
Some essential concepts relating to living things--photosynthesis,
microorganisms, the cell, proteins--are either unknown or not mentioned.
The atom theory had been proposed, but not by Humphry Davy; it is not
mentioned in this book.
The word “explode” is used at least once in its orginal, figurative
sense (“a word that should be exploded in chemistry”) but far more
often in its later, concrete one. The word “explosion” is always used
concretely (“an explosion, or a _detonation_ as chemists commonly call
it”).
Calculated Values:
“the point of zero, or the absolute privation of heat, must consequently
be 1260 degrees below 32 degrees”
[-1228° F. The calculation is based on wrong premises; the correct
figure is about -460° F or -273° C.]
“Mercury congeals only at seventy-two degrees below the freezing point.”
[-40° F, which is also -40° C. This figure is correct, though
approximate.]
“The proportion stated by Sir H. Davy, in his Chemical Researches, is as
1 to 2.389.”
“[ammonia] consisted of about one part of hydrogen to four parts of
nitrogen.... and from the latest and most accurate experiments, the
proportions appear to be, one volume of nitrogen gas to three of
hydrogen gas”
[These and similar calculations involving weight and volume make more
sense when one knows the elements’ atomic weights. For nitric acid,
HNO_3, the figures are 1:14:48, giving a proportion closer to 1:3.5.
For ammonia, NH_3 (not 4), the figures are 14:3.]
“The _oxalic acid_, distilled from sorrel, is the highest term of
vegetable acidification; for, if more oxygen be added to it, it loses
its vegetable nature, and is resolved into carbonic acid and water;”
[Oxalic acid = H_2C_2O_4; carbonic acid (carbon dioxide) = CO_2.
H_2C_2O_4 + O becomes H_2O + CO_2 + CO_2.]
* * * * *
* * * *
Contents: Numbering and Changes
The 3rd and 4th editions used the same Conversation numbering.
Changes between the 4th and 5th (present text) edition are shown.
Some illustrations were also changed.
_Volume I: On Simple Bodies_
(I, II, III no change)
IV. On Specific Heat, Latent Heat, and Chemical Heat.
IV. On Combined Caloric, Comprehending Specific Heat
and Latent Heat.
-- V. [New Chapter] On The Chemical Agencies Of Electricity.
V. VI. On Oxygen And Nitrogen.
VI. VII. On Hydrogen.
[5th edn: adds sections on Gas lights and Miner’s Lamp]
VII. VIII. On Sulphur And Phosphorus.
[5th edn: adds section on Decomposition of Sulphur]
VIII. On Carbone.
IX. On Carbon.
[4th edn: Section “Diamond is Carbon in a State of perfect
purity”; later edn: “Diamond” alone]
IX. X. On Metals.
X. XIV. On Alkalies.
XI. XV. On Earths.
[5th edn: both moved to Vol. II.]
_Volume II. On Compound Bodies_
XII. XIII. On The Attraction Of Composition.
[5th edn. XIV, XV = 4th edn. X, XI]
XIII. On Compound Bodies.
XVI. On Acids.
[Most of XIII, On Compound Bodies, became XVI, On Acids.
Some introductory material was moved to XIV, On Alkalies.]
XIV. On The Combinations of Oxygen with Sulphur and with
Phosphorus; and of the Sulphats And Phosphats.
XVII. Of the Sulphuric and Phosphoric Acids: or, The
Combinations of ....
XV. On The Combination of Oxygen With Nitrogen and with
Carbone; and of The Nitrats And Carbonats.
XVIII. Of The Nitric And Carbonic Acids: Or The Combination ...
XVI. On Muriatic And Oxygenated Muriatic Acids; and on Muriats.
XIX. On The Boracic, Fluoric, Muriatic, and Oxygenated Muriatic
Acids; and on Muriats.
XVII. XX. On The Nature And Composition Of Vegetables.
(remaining Conversations: 4th edn. + 3 = 5th edn.)
* * * * *
* * * *
ERRATA
Inconsistencies are generally unchanged; see end of Errata list.
Two items are noted in the printed Errata, immediately after the
Contents for Vol. I:
Vol. I. page 56. last line but one, for “caloric,” read “calorific.”
179. Note, for “Plate XII.” r. “Plate XIII.”
I.56
The principal use of the mirrors in this experiment is, to prove
that the calorific emanation ...
I.179 fn.
A model of this mode of construction is exhibited in PLATE XIII.
Fig. 1.
Errata Noted by Transcriber:
Contents
II ... Dr. Herschel’s Experiments
[_body text has “Herschell”_]
XIV ... Hartshorn and Sal Volatile [ad]
Conversation I
[Emily] the electric spark which is visible, and [aud]
Conversation II
[Mrs. B., parenthesis] (PLATE I. Fig. 1.) [Fig. I.]
[Mrs. B.] it has been called _differential_ thermometer
[_missing “the”?_]
[Mrs. B., parenthesis] (PLATE III. Fig. 1.) [Fig. I.]
[Emily] the tin surface should radiate the least caloric [carolic]
Conversation III
[Emily] the glass skreen [_spelling unchanged_]
[Mrs. B., parenthesis] (PLATE IV. Fig. 1.) [_error for Fig. 2._]
[Plate IV caption] Thermometers one in the Ether, the other
[_invisible comma after “Thermometers”?_]
[Mrs. B.] he found that it was considerably colder [is was]
Conversation IV
[Caroline] But how can you reverse this experiment?
[_printed “expe-/periment” at line break_]
[Mrs. B.] instead of being 75 degrees, will be 80 degrees
[_error for 88?_]
[Emily, footnote] See page 102. [_in Conversation III_]
[Mrs. B.] then soke it in ether [_spelling unchanged_]
Conversation V
[Mrs. B.] at regular distances in wooden troughs [throughs]
[Caroline] the nature of the action of the Voltaic battery [Votaic]
Conversation VI
[Caroline] the nature of OXYGEN, which come next in our table
[_error for “comes”?_]
Conversation VII
[Mrs. B., parenthesis] (c, d, PLATE VIII. fig. 2.) [fig. 2,]
[Caroline] be soon adopted every where, [every where.]
[Plate X] C. apperture for supplying Oil. [_spelling unchanged_]
Conversation VIII
[Mrs. B.] sulphur is a very combustible substance [sulpur]
[Mrs. B.] I now put into the receiver [_missing “it”?_]
[Emily] What is ... after its detonation? [. for ?]
Conversation IX
[Mrs. B.] we are to burn the carbon [bnrn]
[Mrs. B.] since they may be prepared [thay]
[Mrs. B.] artificial Seltzer water [artifical]
Conversation X
[Mrs. B.] increase the rapidity of its combustion [of of]
[Caroline] a pair of scissars [_spelling unchanged_]
[Mrs. B.] as well as by evaporating the liquid. [? for .]
[Mrs. B., footnote] page 155. of this volume
[_near the end of Conversation IV_]
[Caroline] amongst the metals. I had no notion [, for .]
[Emily] But is it not very singular [singulr]
[Mrs. B.] Thenard and Gay Lussac [_usually hyphenated: “Gay-Lussac”_]
Conversation XIII
[Emily] ... render that decomposition perceptible? [. for ?]
Conversation XIV
[Mrs. B.] an acrid burning taste [on acrid]
[Caroline] according to which heat is disengaged
[_t in “heat” invisible_]
[Mrs. B.] one volume of nitrogen gas to three of hydrogen gas
[_text has “oxygen” for “hydrogen”_]
Conversation XV
[Mrs. B.] so many interesting and important compounds [interesing]
[Caroline] And of what nature ... painting porcelain? [. for ?]
[_speaker’s name missing; supplied from other editions_]
Conversation XVI
[Mrs. B.] combined with acidifiable radicals [acidificiable]
[Mrs. B.] this power of charring wood [charing]
Conversation XVIII
[Caroline] not mentioning this acid
[_printed “mention-/this” at line break_]
[Mrs. B. (footnote)] 1 to 2.389.]
[_printed “2,389”: no other decimal numbers occur in the text,
but a comma appears once as a thousands separator_]
[Mrs. B.] You, understand, now, I hope, [_all commas in original_]
Conversation XX
[Mrs. B.] of vegetables; we shall, therefore [, for ;]
Conversation XXI
[Mrs. B.] the compound last formed will be destroyed; [detroyed]
[Mrs. B.] in such climates great part of the water
[_missing “a” before “great”?_]
[Mrs. B.] a state of debility and languor [langour]
[Mrs. B., parenthesis] (PLATE XIV. Fig. 2.) [PLATE XIII.]
[Mrs. B.] burns at so slow a temperature
[_text unchanged: error for “low” or correct as printed?_]
[Mrs. B.] the poor in heathy countries
[_not an error: “heath-y”, not “healthy”_]
Conversation XXII
[Mrs. B., parenthesis] (PLATE XV. Fig. 4.) [PLATE XIV.]
[Mrs. B.] so many vessels or apparatus
[_not an error: “apparatus” is the Latin plural form_]
[Mrs. B.] chesnut [_common variant spelling_]
Conversation XXIII
[Mrs. B.] pure gelatine [gelantine]
Conversation XXV
[Mrs. B.] The muscular action of the diaphragm [diaphram]
Conversation XXVI
[Mrs. B.] the air had been previously consumed [previouly]
[Mrs. B.] this is by the Tartan Arabs
[_text unchanged: Tartar?_]
[Mrs. B.] or studying the inventions of art, let us, therefore
[; for ,]
Index
Arrack [_body text has “arack”_]
[Cold] ---- from evaporation, i. 102. 113. 150
[_volume number missing_]
Culinary heat, i. 88 [_volume number missing_]
[Decomposition] ---- of ammonia, i. 363. ii. 37
[ammonnia; _“i” invisible_]
Frankincense [Francincense]
[Freezing mixtures] ---- by evaporation, i. 104. 150, &c.
[_volume number invisible_]
Glue, ii. 281. 287 [_volume number missing_]
N. [_anomalous . unchanged_]
Phosphorous acid, i. 274. ii. 99
[_volume I body text always has “Phosphorus acid”_]
[Sulphat] ---- lime, or gypsum, or [gypsum of]
[Sulphur] ---- flowers of, i. 257 [_volume number missing_]
[Thermometers] ----, Centigrade, i. 43 [Centrigade]
[Thermometers] ----, differential, i. 46 [differentiial]
V, U [_alphabetized as shown_]
Zirconia, ii. 44 [Zicornia]
Zirconium, i. 14 [Zicornium ... 13]
Inconsistencies and variant spellings:
Standard spellings in this book include:
bason, judgment, embrio, volcanos (plural), potatoe (singular)
Inconsistencies include:
capitalization of “Fig.” or “fig.”
hyphenization of words such as “oxy-muriatic”
“glauber salt” and “Glauber’s salt” both occur
Variant forms include:
opake, opaque
aëriform, aeriform (with and without dieresis)
gasses, gases
phosphoret, phosphuret (but always carburet)
Libya, Lybia
dy(e)ing [from “dye”]
nap(h)tha
pla(i)ster
slak(e)ing
earthen-ware, earthen ware
“sulphurous”, “naphtha” are used in the Contents and the Index;
“sulphureous”, “naptha” in the body text
forms in “-xion” (such as “connexion”) appear only in the Contents
and the Index
Volume I has more archaic forms than Volume II:
“shew”, “inclose” are sometimes used instead of “show”, “enclose”
“carbone” with final “e” appears in one Plate caption. (In the
same plate’s header, the “e” appears to have been removed by
the engraver.)
“develope(ment)” is more common in Volume I, “develop(ment)” in
Volume II
“-ize” and “-yze” forms (for later “-ise” and “-yse”) are common in
Volume I, rare in Volume II except in the Index
The “Dr. Marcet” mentioned in a few footnotes and figure captions is the
author’s husband. Humphry Davy (“Sir H. Davy”) was knighted in 1812,
between the 3rd and 4th editions of the book.
Reminder:
DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.
* * * * *
* * * *
* * * * *
End of Project Gutenberg's Conversations on Chemistry, V. 1-2, by Jane Marcet