V
§ 14. Absorption is the penetration of a liquid or a gas
into a porous body: Imbibition is restricted to liquids pene
trating into the pores of a solid body. Thus if the leaves of
plants receive carbonic acid etc. we call it absorption.
§ 15. The mutual exchange of two liquids through a
porous body is called Endosmose (perhaps better: Diosmose
or Osmose). If there is communication between two liquids,
capable of mixing through the pores of a porous body (a bladder
or unglazed clay), the colour would show, that the liquids with
different velocities mix with each other, in consequence of which,
quite independent of hydrostatical laws, the level of one liquid
rises and that of the other falls. Tie up one end of a chimney
with a piece of bladder, pour in a solution of blue vitriol and
dip the chimney into a vessel containing so much water, that the
vitriol in the chimney and the water are on one level. We shall
see, that the liquid in the chimney rises and gradually the water
takes the colour of the blue vitriol. The process goes on until
both liquids are alike. To understand this it must be borne in
mind, that 1). There is a stronger attraction between water and
blue vitriol than between the parts of each of these two liquids.
2) Water passes with greater ease through the pores of the
bladder than blue vitriol. 3) The pressure of the higher column
of liquid in the chimney is not sufficient to overcome cohesion
and capillaceous attraction, the pores being too small.
§ 16 Inertia. 72-82. The incapability of matter to
change its own state of motion or of rest. It is a negative
property of matter. The impeding causes are: adhesion, fric
tion and resistance of the air.
Other examples: "a needle is fixed at each end of a broom
stick and these needles are made to rest on two glasses, placed
on chairs, the needles alone being in contact with the glasses.
