XIV. On the quantity of carbon in carbonic acid, and on the nature of the diamond

Abstract

The estimates of the quantity of real carbon in carbonic acid differing very widely, and the experiments of Guyton de Morveau upon the combustion of the diamond, detailed in the 31st volume of the Annales de Chimie , being liable to some objections from the manner in which the operations were conducted, we determined to institute a set of experiments, in order, if possible, to settle the question. Lavoisier, from the result of experiments apparently conducted with much accuracy, concluded that every hundred parts by weight of carbonic acid consisted of 28 carbon and 72 oxygene. This was in a great degree confirmed by the very valuable researches of Smithson Tennant, Esq. on the nature of the diamond, an account of which is printed in the Transactions of this Society for the year 1797, and which were made previously to the experiments of Guyton; but notwithstanding this, the result of Guyton's experiment, which only allowed 17, 88 per cent, of carbon to carbonic acid, has been adopted in all the systems of chemistry to the present time.