Magic tricks -- Juvenile literature; Scientific recreations -- Juvenile literature
A light so brilliant that the eye can scarcely bear to contemplate it,
is produced by the immersion of phosphorus in oxygen gas. To perform
this experiment, you place a piece of phosphorus in a copper cup, of
the circumference of a sixpence, which is fastened to a thick piece of
iron wire, attached to a cork which fits a bottle (as in the foregoing
experiment) filled with oxygen gas. Set fire to the phosphorous, and
quickly plunge it into the bottle; when the splendour of the combustion
will be surpassingly beautiful.
It is necessary to observe, that the heat is so excessive, that if the
piece of phosphorous in this experiment be larger than a small pea,
there will be great danger of breaking the bottle.
COMBUSTION OF IRON IN OXYGEN GAS.
Twist a piece of fine iron wire, such as is used by piano-forte makers,
round a cylindrically-shaped piece of wood or metal, which will give
it a spiral form; or a broken watch-spring, which may be bought for a
trifle of the watch-makers, will answer the same purpose. Fasten round
one end of it some waxed cotton thread or twine, and attach the other
end to a cork, which fits a glass jar or bottle, that will hold a
quart, filled with oxygen gas. Having made the wire red-hot by setting
light to the thread, plunge it into the bottle. Do not cork the
bottle, but let the cork merely lay on the mouth, and to prevent its
being burned, a small a piece of lead should be fastened to the bottom
of it. The iron will instantly begin to burn with great brilliancy,
throwing out luminous scintillations.
To prevent the bottle from being broken by the sparks, a small quantity
of sand should be previously poured into it.
GLOW-WORM IN OXYGEN GAS.
If a glow-worm be placed in a jar of oxygen gas, in a dark room, it
will shine with a far surpassing brilliancy to that which it exhibits
in atmospheric air.
LUMINOUS CHARCOAL.
Attach a small piece of charcoal to the end of a copper-wire; make it
red-hot, and immerse it in a jar of oxygen gas. The charcoal will burn
with great brilliance, throwing out splendid scintillations. The bark
of the wood converted into charcoal must be selected, otherwise there
will be no scintillations.
BRILLIANT COMBUSTION IN OXYGEN.
Place in a bottle of oxygen gas a lighted taper, and it will burn with
a flame of increased brilliancy.
Extinguish the taper immediately; put it into the same or another
bottle of oxygen, and it will be again lighted provided a spark remain
on the wick.
Bend a piece of iron wire in a spiral form, and tie on to one end some
cotton or flax; sprinkle some flour of sulphur on it, set it on fire,
dip it into a bottle of oxygen gas, and beautiful corruscations will be
thrown off the wire.
FLAME FROM COLD METALS.
Provide a bottle of the gas chlorine, which may be purchased of
any operative chemist, and with it you may exhibit some brilliant
experiments.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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