HENRY, WILLIAM. - A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARDS THE ATOMIC THEORY - HENRY'S LAW.

Experiments on the Quantity of Gases absorbed by Water, at different Temperatures, and under different Pressures. Read December 23, 1802. (and) Appendix to Mr. William henry's Paper, on the Quality of Gases absorbed by Water, at different Temperatures...(2 parts).

(London, W. Bulmer and Co., 1803). 4to. No wrappers as extracted from "Philosophical Transactions" 1803 - Part I. Pp.29-42 and 1 engraved plate and Appendix: pp. 274-276. With titlepage to the volume Part I. A paperflaw in margin of the first leaf, neathly repaired, no loss. The plate with a few small brownspots. Verso of titlepage with a small stamp, otherwise clean and fine, wide-margined.

First appearance of this highly importent paper in which Henry announced his discovery of the law, which later was termed "Henry's Law". The law states that when a gas is absorbed in a liquid the weight of the gas dissolved is directly proportional to the pressure of the gas over the liquid.
This discovery contributed directly to the atomic theory of Dalton.(Parkinson: Breakthroughs: 1803 C) "Dalton's own experiments on the solution of gases and the stimulus afforded by Henry's work have been seen as crucial in the development of the atomic theory."(DSB VI p. 285).
A paper by Humphrey Davy: "An Accont of some Experiemnts and Observations on the constituent Parts of certain astringent Vegetables; and on their Operating in Tanning. Read February 24, 1803", comes with. In the same volume Pp. 233-273.

Order-nr.: 42540