Connexion between Chemistry and Natural Philosophy.—Improved State of modern Chemistry.—Its use in the Arts.—The general Objects of Chemistry.—Definition of Elementary Bodies.—Definition of Decomposition.—Integrant and Constituent Particles.—Distinction between Simple and Compound Bodies.—Classification of Simple Bodies.—Of Chemical Affinity, or Attraction of Composition.—Examples of Composition and Decomposition.

Light and Heat capable of being separated.—Dr. Herschel’s Experiments.—Phosphorescence.—Of Caloric.—Its two Modifications.—Free Caloric.—Of the three xii different States of Bodies, solid, fluid, and aeriform.—Dilatation of solid Bodies.—Pyrometer.—Dilatation of Fluids.—Thermometer.—Dilatation of Elastic Fluids.—Air Thermometer.—Equal Diffusion of Caloric.—Cold a Negative Quality.—Professor Prevost’s Theory of the Radiation of Heat.—Professor Pictet’s Experiments on the Reflexion of Heat.—Mr. Leslie’s Experiments on the Radiation of Heat.

Of the different Power of Bodies to conduct Heat.—Attempt to account for this Power.—Count Rumford’s Theory of the non-conducting Power of Fluids.—Phenomena of Boiling.—Of Solution in general.—Solvent Power of Water.—Difference between Solution and Mixture.—Solvent Power of Caloric.—Of Clouds, Rain, Dr. Wells’ theory of Dew, Evaporation, &c.—Influence of Atmospherical Pressure on Evaporation.—Ignition.

Of Specific Heat.—Of the different Capacities of Bodies for Heat.—Specific Heat not perceptible by the Senses.—How to be ascertained.—Of Latent Heat.—Distinction between Latent and Specific Heat.—Phenomena attending the Melting of Ice and the Formation of Vapour.—Phenomena attending the Formation of Ice, and the Condensation of Elastic Fluids.—Instances of Condensation, and consequent Disengagement of Heat, produced by Mixtures, by the Slaking of Lime.—General xiii Remarks on Latent Heat.—Explanation of the Phenomena of Ether boiling, and Water freezing, at the same Temperature.—Of the Production of Cold by Evaporation.—Calorimeter.—Meteorological Remarks.

Of Positive and Negative Electricity.—Galvani’s Discoveries.—Voltaic Battery.—Electrical Machine.—Theory of Voltaic Excitement.

The Atmosphere composed of Oxygen and Nitrogen in the State of Gas.—Definition of Gas.—Distinction between Gas and Vapour.—Oxygen essential to Combustion and Respiration.—Decomposition of the Atmosphere by Combustion.—Nitrogen Gas obtained by this Process.—Of Oxygenation in general.—Of the Oxydation of Metals.—Oxygen Gas obtained from Oxyd of Manganese.—Description of a Water-Bath for collecting and preserving Gases.—Combustion of Iron Wire in Oxygen Gas.—Fixed and volatile Products of Combustion.—Patent Lamps.—Decomposition of the Atmosphere by Respiration.—Recomposition of the Atmosphere.

Of Hydrogen.—Of the Formation of Water by the Combustion of Hydrogen.—Of the Decomposition of Water. xiv —Detonation of Hydrogen Gas.—Description of Lavoisier’s Apparatus for the formation of Water.—Hydrogen Gas essential to the Production of Flame.—Musical Tones produced by the Combustion of Hydrogen Gas within a Glass Tube.—Combustion of Candles explained.—Gas lights.—Detonation of Hydrogen Gas in Soap Bubbles.—Air Balloons.—Meteorological Phenomena ascribed to Hydrogen Gas.—Miner’s Lamp.

The final two pages of the Table of Contents for Volume I were missing from the available text; everything after “Decomposition of Water” was supplied from earlier and later editions, compared against the body text. The section marked “Diamond” (Conv. IX) was called “Diamond is Carbon(e) in a state of perfect purity” in the 4th edn., “Diamond” alone in later editions.

Natural History of Sulphur.—Sublimation.—Alembic.—Combustion of Sulphur in Atmospheric Air.—Of Acidification in general.—Nomenclature of the Acids.—Combustion of Sulphur in Oxygen Gas.—Sulphuric Acid.—Sulphurous Acid.—Decomposition of Sulphur.—Sulphurated Hydrogen Gas.—Harrogate, or Hydro-sulphurated Waters.—Phosphorus.—History of its Discovery.—Its Combustion in Oxygen Gas.—Phosphoric Acid.—Phosphorus Acid.—Eudiometer.—Combination of Phosphorus with Sulphur.—Phosphorated Hydrogen Gas.—Nomenclature of Binary Compounds.—Phosphoret of Lime burning under Water.

Method of obtaining pure Charcoal.—Method of making common Charcoal.—Pure Carbon not to be obtained by Art.—Diamond.—Properties of Carbon.—Combustion of Carbon.—Production of Carbonic Acid Gas.—Carbon susceptible of only one Degree of Acidification.—Gaseous Oxyd of Carbon.—Of Seltzer Water and other Mineral Waters.—Effervescence.—Decomposition of Water by Carbon.—Of Fixed and Essential Oils.—Of the Combustion of Lamps and Candles.—Vegetable Acids.—Of the Power of Carbon to revive Metals.

Natural History of Metals.—Of Roasting, Smelting, &c.—Oxydation of metals by the Atmosphere.—Change of Colours produced by different degrees of Oxydation.—Combustion of Metals.—Perfect Metals burnt by Electricity only.—Some Metals revived by Carbon and other Combustibles.—Perfect Metals revived by Heat alone.—Of the Oxydation of certain Metals by the Decomposition of Water. Power of Acids to promote this Effect.—Oxydation of Metals by Acids.—Metallic Neutral Salts.—Previous oxydation of the Metal requisite.—Crystallisation.—Solution distinguished from Dissolution.—Five metals susceptible of acidification.—Meteoric Stones.—Alloys, Soldering, Plating, &c.—Of Arsenic, and of the caustic Effects of Oxygen.—Of Verdigris, Sympathetic Ink, &c.—Of the new Metals discovered by Sir H. Davy.