We shall now begin to understand more clearly our experiments and
researches; because, when we have examined these things once or twice, we
shall soon see why a candle burns in the air. When we have in this way
analysed the water--that is to say, separated, or electrolysed its parts
out of it--we get two volumes of hydrogen, and one of the body that burns
it. And these two are represented to us on the following diagram, with
their weights also stated; and we shall find that the oxygen is a very
heavy body by comparison with the hydrogen. It is the other element in
water.
I had better, perhaps, tell you now how we get this oxygen abundantly,
having shewn you how we can separate it from the water. Oxygen, as you
will immediately imagine, exists in the atmosphere; for how should the
candle burn to produce water without it?
_____________________
| | |
| 1 | 8 |
| | |
| | Oxygen. | Oxygen, . . . . 88.9
| | |
| |_________| Hydrogen, . . . 11.1
| Hydrogen. | -----
| | 9 Water,. . . . . 100.0
| |
| |
| |
|___________|
Such a thing would be absolutely impossible, and chemically impossible,
without oxygen.
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