The works of the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq., epitomiz'd by Richard Boulton ... ; illustrated with copper plates.

TITLE I. Experiments concerning Bodies capable of Freezing others.

BEfore we proceed to the natural History of Cold, it perhaps may be necessary to consi∣der what Bodies are capable of retaining such Qualities, and what are not; but that being a con∣sideration not so necessary to our present pur∣pose, which is only to set down what Obser∣vations we have made in Bodies subject to be froze; I shall only in short take notice, That most Bodies, except fire, are susceptible of actual Cold, and it is a Question whether even that be not rather a state of Matter in such a peculiar motion, than a distinct and particular species of Natural Bodies; since even Gun-pow∣der, and Spirit of Wine before they are set on fire by some other Body are actually Cold. But to proceed to what Observations relate to our Title.

* 1.11. Bodies cold enough to freeze others are very few here in England; Snow and Salt mix∣ed being most remarkable; which cool the Liquor contained in those Vessels, which are closed up in such mixtures.

2. Snow alone would not freeze Water, as a Mixture of it and Salt does; and tho' Water poured betwixt the Interstices of Snow or Ice freezes; yet there is a great disparity, betwixt exposing it to the Air, and keeping it up in Ves∣sels; and tho' it is froze, when covered with Snow in a Bottle all night, yet that may proceed from the Coldness of the Air, as well as the in∣fluence of the Snow.

3. If Nitre, Allum, Vitriol, Sal-Armoniack, or Sugar be mixed in due Proportion with Snow; they will enable it to freeze, tho' not so intense∣ly as common Salt.

4. Spirit of Salt being shaken together with Snow in the Vials, they caused a Dew which was gathered on the outside the Glass to be froze; tho' the Mixture within was not, and Oyl of Vitriol mixed with Snow in a thin Vial, had the same Effect only more intensely.

5. But not only these Acid Spirits had these Effects on the moisture of the Air condensed on the outside the Glasses; but likewise Spirit of Nitre, Spirit of Vinegar, and Spirit of Sugar, the former of these three being very powerfull, tho' the latter were not so strongly frigorifick.

6. Spirit of Urine mixed with Snow in a Vi∣al froze the External moisture weakly; but Spirit of Sal-Armoniack drawn from Quick∣lime did it powerfully.

7. Spirit of Urine and Oyl of Vitriol poured upon Snow, froze moderately.

8. Sal Gem▪ with a sublimate made with common sublimate and Sal-Armoniack; nay, and with both loaf and Kitchin-Sugar; as like∣wise a strong solution of Pot-ashes mixed with

Snow did freeze, tho' very faintly. And both a Solution of Salt of Tartar and Pot-ashes Agi∣tated with Snow in a small Vial, produced Fil∣mes of Ice on the outside the Glass, tho' very thin ones.

9. A sweet Solution of Minium in Spirit of Vinegar mixed with Snow, excited the frigori∣fick Quality of it; yet some of that Solution being enclosed in Snow and Salt, would not be froze by them. Snow shut up alone, thawed much more slowly, than that which was mixed with Salts or Spirits. No Salts will promote the frigorifick Quality of Snow, so far as to enable it to freeze, which quicken not it's Dis∣solution. Neither Chrystals of Tartar, nor Borax, both beaten to powder, nor Sublimate would enable Snow to freeze, as well as the Powder of each lying undissolved in it.

10. Water of Quick-lime being twice tryed would not freeze, but only gather a dew on the outside; yet the Liquor being kept up 12 Months the Spirits with which those Waters abound flew away.

11. Oyl of Turpentine in which Ice dissolves slower than in several other Liquors enables not Snow to freeze. Tho' Spirit of Wine shut up with Snow in a Bottle, enabled it to freeze powerfully, and to Chrystalize even Urine it self, which might be taken off in Scales.

12. Spirit of Nitre and Snow being mixed together in a just Proportion froze very pow∣erfully and speedily, not only Water but Spi∣rit of Vinegar, and weak Spirit of Salt; the first of which retained it's taste, when froze, and the latter shot into Chrystals which lay across

each other. A Solution of Sal-Armoniack part∣ly evaporated would shoot into Chrystals like combs and feathers, and Sal-Armoniack distill'd from Quick-lime would shoot into Branches al∣most like those, so nimbly, that one's Eye might discern them to spread and increase. The like Experiments being tryed with Wine and strong Ale succeeded, but very faintly.

13. Since Bodies generally help Snow to freeze, which hasten it's dissolution; we threw into a Vial, which contained Snow, heated Sand, which enabled it to cause a Dew, but not to freeze. And warm Water poured into another, when it had been shaken, produced a considerable degree of Cold, and gathered Dew, but froze it not.

14. Tho' it is generally believed, That the Hoar-froast on Glass-windows, is only exsu∣dations through the Pores of the Glass, and froze by the External Cold; yet it will easily appear, That it is rather on the inside the Glass; the Steams which rove up and down the Room being condensed by the External Cold, and froze.

15. To shew, That the Ice which appears on the outside of the Vial in the fore-going Experi∣ments, proceeds not from any subtil Parts of the Mixture penetrating the Pores of the Glass and settling on the outside; we found that four Ounces and ¼ of the Mixture of Ice and Salt, being shut up in a Vial, by the access of Dew on the outside, the weight of it was increased 12 Grains. Another Vial which contained two Ounces six Drams and a half increased in weight 4 Grains; the Vial being unsealed under Water,

it sucked in a good quantity of it. Six ounces Snow and Salt being sealed up in a Glass, the Hoar-Frost was wiped off but returned again; and the Vial being counterpoised in a pair of Scales, the Vapours condensed by the coldness of it, in the time that the Snow was melting, weighed 10 Grains. A like quantity of Snow and Spirit of Wine being shut up in a single Vi∣al, the outside was presently cover'd with Ice, and in all it became 7 Grains heavier than be∣fore. Another time a mixture of Snow and Salt, which weighed 3 ¾ ounces, afforded 18 grains of condensed Vapours. And a mixture of Snow and Sal-Gem. which counterpoised 3 ounces and 70 grains, upon an additional weight of condensed Vapours, weighed 20 grains more than before.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Experi∣ments of Bodies ca∣pable of freezing others.