DALTON, JOHN. - LAW OF MULTIPLE PROPORTIONS.

Untersuchungen über das Verhältniss, wonach die elastischen Flüssigkeiten, welche die Atmosphäre bilden, in ihr vorhanden sind; (und die Vertheidigung des Salpetergas - Eudiometers). Frei bearbeitet von Gilbert. (+) Ueber das Bestreben der elastischen Flüssigkeiten, sich durch einander zu verbreiten. Frei bearbeitet von Gilbert. (2 Papers).

(Halle, Rengerschen Buchhandlung, 1807). Without wrappers as published in "Annalen der Physik. Herausgegeben von Ludwig Wilhelm Gilbert", Bd. 27, Zwölftes Stück. (The entire issue offered (= Stück 12). Pp. 369-488 a. 1 folded engraved plate. Dalton's papers: pp. 369-387 and pp. 388-399.

First appearance in German of two importent papers on the multiple proportions of gases, announcing the first example of the Law of multiple proportions. The first paper was read to the Manchester Society in 1802, but first published in 1805. It is Dalton's first chemical memoir, and it "disclosed the insight obtained through study of the combinations of oxygen with nitrous gas, into the LAW OF MULTIPLE PROPORTIONS."(D.N.B).

"One thing Dalton did in order to provide support for his heavely attacked theory of mixed gases was to begin an experimental inquiry into the proportions of the various gases in the atmosphere. This inquiry accidentally raised the whole question of the solubility of gases in water. By 12. Novwember 1802 he had discovered enough to read to the Manchester Society his paper "On the Proportion of Several Gases or Elastic Fluids..." (the paper offered). When read, although not when published, it contained the staement that carbon dioxide "is held in water, not by chemical affinity, but merely by the pressure of the gas...on the surface, forcing it into the pores of water.". The researches on solubility thus led to an extension of his mechanical ideas."(DSB III, p. 541).

Smyth No. 36 a. 37. (German version).

Order-nr.: 43644