itself which is luminous, but the incandescent soot it contains. These particles of charcoal which occur in flames may be easily observed by introducing a cold object, like a knife, into the flame.[45] The particles of charcoal burn at the outer surface of the flame if the supply of air be sufficient, but if the supply of air--that is, of oxygen--be insufficient for their combustion the flame smokes, because the unconsumed particles of charcoal are carried off by the current of air.[46] [42] Faraday proved this by a very convincing experiment on a candle flame. If one arm of a bent glass tube be placed in a candle flame above the wick in the dark portion of the flame, then the products of the partial combustion of the stearin will pass up the tube, condense in the other arm, and collect in a flask placed under it (fig. 35) as heavy white fumes which burn when lighted. If the tube be raised into the upper luminous portion of the flame, then a dense black smoke which will not inflame accumulates in the flask. Lastly, if the tube be let down until it touches the wick, then little but stearic acid condenses in the flask. [43] All transparent substances which transmit light with great ease (that is, which absorb but little light) are but little luminous when heated; so also substances which absorb but few heat rays, when heated transmit few rays of heat. [44] There is, however, no doubt but that very heavy dense vapours or gases under pressure (according to the experiments of Frankland) are luminous when heated, because, as they become denser they approach a liquid or solid state. Thus detonating gas when exploded under pressure gives a brilliant light. [45] If hydrogen gas be passed through a volatile liquid hydrocarbon--for instance, through benzene (the benzene may be poured directly into the vessel in which hydrogen is generated)--then its vapour burns with the hydrogen and gives a very bright flame, because the resultant particles of carbon (soot) become incandescent. Benzene, or platinum gauze, introduced into a hydrogen flame may be employed for illuminating purposes.