DAVY, HUMPHRY. - CARBON AND DIAMOND ARE CHEMICALLY IDENTICAL.

Some Experiments on the Combustion of the Diamond and other carbonaceous Substances. Read June 23, 1814.

(London, W. Bulmer and Co., 1814). 4to. No wrappers as extracted from "Philosophical Transactions" 1814 - Part II. Pp. 557-570.

First printing of this importent paper in which Davy "finally put it beyond doubt that carbon and diamond were chemically identical; that neither all acids nor all alkalies contained oxygen; and that oxygen enjoyed no unique status as the supporter of combustion, but rather that heat was a consequence of any violent chemical change."(DSB).

"In Florence he (Davy) burnt a diamond in oxygen, using the burning glass of the Accademia del Cimento, and foundthat it has the same composition as pure charcoal. He found that a diamond ignited in oxygen by a burning glass continued to burn when the source of external heating is removed, and only carbonic acid gas and no moisture was formed."(Partington IV:p. 61).

Order-nr.: 46007