--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.

Contents Of
_The Second Volume_.

ON COMPOUND BODIES.

CONVERSATION XIII.
Page

ON THE ATTRACTION OF COMPOSITION. 1

Of the laws which regulate the Phenomena of the Attraction of
Composition. --1. It takes place only between Bodies of a different
Nature. --2. Between the most minute Particles only. --3. Between 2,
3, 4, or more Bodies. --Of Compound or Neutral Salts. --4. Produces
a Change of Temperature. --5. The Properties which characterise
Bodies in their separate State, destroyed by Combination. --6. The
Force of Attraction estimated by that which is required by the
Separation of the Constituents. --7. Bodies have amongst themselves
different Degrees of Attraction. --Of simple elective and double
elective Attractions. --Of quiescent and divellent Forces. --Law of
definite Proportions. --Decomposition of Salts by Voltaic
Electricity.

CONVERSATION XIV.

ON ALKALIES.