The nature of aerial acid was further discussed by Bergman in 1779 [30]. Being
a gas with acidic properties, Bergman compared carbon dioxide with sulphur
dioxide and nitrogen oxides, and from this analogy he suspected carbon dioxide to
contain phlogiston. Bergman continued the discussion by comparing aerial acid
with hydrochloric acid, from which phlogiston can be removed (i.e. it can be
oxidised to chlorine).
6 Aerial acid was something of a favourite topic of Bergman,
and he actually wrote more about carbon dioxide than about oxygen in his preface
to Scheele’s Chemische Abhandlung (Sect. 21.3).
References
1. (1950) Gmelins Handbuch der Anorganischen Chemie, Achte Auflage, Calcium Teil A,
Lieferung 1. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim
2. Black J (1756) Experiments upon Magnesia alba, Quicklime, and some other alkaline
Substances, Essays and Observations, Physical and Literary read before a Society in
Edinburgh, 2:157–225
3. Meyer JF (1764) Chymische Versuche, zur näheren Erkenntniß des ungelöschten Kalchs, der
elastischen und electrischen Materie, des allerreinsten Feuerwesens, und der ursprünglichen
allgemeinen Säure, Johann Wilhelm Schmidt, Hannover & Leipzig
4. Sjöstén CG (1801) Åminnelse-tal, hållit för Kongl. Vetenskaps Academien öfver dess
framledne ledamot herr Carl Vilhelm Scheele, den 14 oct. 1799. Stockholm
5. Hoffmann F (1708) Dissertationes physic-medica. 2:183
6. Partington JR (1961) A history of chemistry, vol 2. Macmillan, London, p 694
7. Macquer J (1771) Dictionary of Chemistry vol 1 p 36; vol 2 p 838
8. Partington JR (1962) A history of chemistry, vol 3. Macmillan, London, p 140
9. Lane T (1769) A Letter from Mr. Lane, Apothecary, in Aldersgate-Street, to the Honourable
Henry Cavendish, F. R. S. on the Solubility of Iron in Simple Water, by the Intervention of
Fixed Air, Phil Trans, 59: 216–227
10. Weber JA (1778) Neuentdeckte Natur und Eigenschaften des Kalkes und der äzenden Körper,
Berlin
11. Partington JR (1962) A history of chemistry, vol 3. Macmillan, London, p 152
12. Scheele CW (1781) Über das brennbare Wesen im rohen Kalk, Chem Ann, part 1, 30–41
13. Weber JA (1784) Bemerkungen über das brennbare Wesen im rohen Kalke, Neuesten
Entdeckungen in der Chemie 12:94–111
14. Scheele CW (1785) Erläuterung über einige, den ungelöschten Kalk betreffende, Versuche,
Chem Ann, part 2, 220–227
15. Carelid G, Nordström J (1965) Torbern Bergman’s Foreign Correspondence, Almqvist &
Wiksell, Uppsala, p L
16. Kirwan R (1784) Vom Hrn. R. Kirwan in London, Chem Ann, 1:36–38
17. Scheele CW (1784) Vom Hrn. Scheele in Köping, Chem Ann, 2:123–125
18. Scheele CW (1784) Vom Hrn. Scheele in Köping, Chem Ann, 2:328–329
19. Scheele CW (1785) Vom Hrn. Scheele in Köping, Chem Ann, 1:153–155
20. Kirwan R (1785) Vom Hrn. R. Kirwan in London, Chem Ann, 2:335–337
21. Scheele CW (1785) Vom Hrn. Scheele in Köping, Chem Ann, 1:455–457
22. Bergman T (1784) Vom Hrn. Profess. und Ritter Bergmann in Upsal, Chem Ann, 1:38–39
23. Priestley J (1772) Observations on Different Kinds of Air, Phil Trans 62:147–264
6
It should be noted that carbon is in its highest oxidation state in carbon dioxide. It cannot be
oxidised further.
250
18 Research on Carbon Dioxide
a gas with acidic properties, Bergman compared carbon dioxide with sulphur
dioxide and nitrogen oxides, and from this analogy he suspected carbon dioxide to
contain phlogiston. Bergman continued the discussion by comparing aerial acid
with hydrochloric acid, from which phlogiston can be removed (i.e. it can be
oxidised to chlorine).
6 Aerial acid was something of a favourite topic of Bergman,
and he actually wrote more about carbon dioxide than about oxygen in his preface
to Scheele’s Chemische Abhandlung (Sect. 21.3).
References
1. (1950) Gmelins Handbuch der Anorganischen Chemie, Achte Auflage, Calcium Teil A,
Lieferung 1. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim
2. Black J (1756) Experiments upon Magnesia alba, Quicklime, and some other alkaline
Substances, Essays and Observations, Physical and Literary read before a Society in
Edinburgh, 2:157–225
3. Meyer JF (1764) Chymische Versuche, zur näheren Erkenntniß des ungelöschten Kalchs, der
elastischen und electrischen Materie, des allerreinsten Feuerwesens, und der ursprünglichen
allgemeinen Säure, Johann Wilhelm Schmidt, Hannover & Leipzig
4. Sjöstén CG (1801) Åminnelse-tal, hållit för Kongl. Vetenskaps Academien öfver dess
framledne ledamot herr Carl Vilhelm Scheele, den 14 oct. 1799. Stockholm
5. Hoffmann F (1708) Dissertationes physic-medica. 2:183
6. Partington JR (1961) A history of chemistry, vol 2. Macmillan, London, p 694
7. Macquer J (1771) Dictionary of Chemistry vol 1 p 36; vol 2 p 838
8. Partington JR (1962) A history of chemistry, vol 3. Macmillan, London, p 140
9. Lane T (1769) A Letter from Mr. Lane, Apothecary, in Aldersgate-Street, to the Honourable
Henry Cavendish, F. R. S. on the Solubility of Iron in Simple Water, by the Intervention of
Fixed Air, Phil Trans, 59: 216–227
10. Weber JA (1778) Neuentdeckte Natur und Eigenschaften des Kalkes und der äzenden Körper,
Berlin
11. Partington JR (1962) A history of chemistry, vol 3. Macmillan, London, p 152
12. Scheele CW (1781) Über das brennbare Wesen im rohen Kalk, Chem Ann, part 1, 30–41
13. Weber JA (1784) Bemerkungen über das brennbare Wesen im rohen Kalke, Neuesten
Entdeckungen in der Chemie 12:94–111
14. Scheele CW (1785) Erläuterung über einige, den ungelöschten Kalk betreffende, Versuche,
Chem Ann, part 2, 220–227
15. Carelid G, Nordström J (1965) Torbern Bergman’s Foreign Correspondence, Almqvist &
Wiksell, Uppsala, p L
16. Kirwan R (1784) Vom Hrn. R. Kirwan in London, Chem Ann, 1:36–38
17. Scheele CW (1784) Vom Hrn. Scheele in Köping, Chem Ann, 2:123–125
18. Scheele CW (1784) Vom Hrn. Scheele in Köping, Chem Ann, 2:328–329
19. Scheele CW (1785) Vom Hrn. Scheele in Köping, Chem Ann, 1:153–155
20. Kirwan R (1785) Vom Hrn. R. Kirwan in London, Chem Ann, 2:335–337
21. Scheele CW (1785) Vom Hrn. Scheele in Köping, Chem Ann, 1:455–457
22. Bergman T (1784) Vom Hrn. Profess. und Ritter Bergmann in Upsal, Chem Ann, 1:38–39
23. Priestley J (1772) Observations on Different Kinds of Air, Phil Trans 62:147–264
6
It should be noted that carbon is in its highest oxidation state in carbon dioxide. It cannot be
oxidised further.
250
18 Research on Carbon Dioxide