A century of science in America : $b with special reference to the American Journal of Science, 1818-1918
History
A century of science in America : $b with special reference to the American Journal of Science, 1818-1918
American journal of science; Science -- United States -- History
Hare also invented a galvanic battery which he called a “deflagrator,”
consisting of a large number of single cells in series. With this, using
carbon electrodes, he was able to obtain a higher temperature than with
his oxy-hydrogen blowpipe. He was the first to apply galvanic ignition
to blasting (=21=, 139, 1832), and he first carried out electrolyses
with the use of mercury as the cathode (=37=, 267, 1839). In this way he
prepared metallic calcium and other metals from solutions of their
chlorides, while the principle employed by him has in recent times been
used as the basis of a very important process for manufacturing caustic
potash and soda.
Silliman, who had become an intimate friend of Hare during two periods
of chemical study under Woodhouse in Philadelphia in 1802–1804, and who
soon afterwards spent fourteen months as a student abroad, chiefly in
England and Scotland, took a broad interest in science and gave much
attention to geology as well as to chemistry. In spite of this divided
interest and his work as a teacher, popular scientific lecturer, and
editor, he found time for a surprising amount of original chemical work.
For instance, using Hare’s deflagrator, he showed that carbon was
volatilized in the electric arc (=5=, 108, 1822); he was the first in
this country to prepare hydrofluoric acid (=6=, 354, 1823), and he first
detected bromine in one of our natural brines (=18=, 142, 1830).
_Atomic Weights._
As soon as the atomic theory was accepted, the relative weights of the
atoms became a matter of vital importance in connection with formulas
and chemical calculations. In advancing his theory, Dalton had made some
very rough atomic weight determinations, and it has been mentioned
already that Berzelius, at the time that our historical period begins,
was engaged in the prodigious task of accurately determining these
constants for nearly all the known elements. It is recorded that he
analyzed quantitatively no less than two thousand compounds in
connection with this work during his career. His table of 1818 has
proved to be remarkably accurate for that pioneer period, and it
indicates his remarkable skill as an analyst.
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