The reason why : $b a careful collection of many hundreds of reasons for things which, though generally believed, are imperfectly understood. A book of condensed scientific knowledge for the million — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The reason why : $b a careful collection of many hundreds of reasons for things which, though generally believed, are imperfectly understood. A book of condensed scientific knowledge for the million
John Stuart Mill · en
53. _Why does hydrogen explode, when mixed with oxygen, upon being
brought in contact with fire?_
Because of its strong affinity for _oxygen_, with which, upon the
application of heat, it unites to form water.
54. _Where does hydrogen chiefly exist?_
In the form of _water_, where it exists in combination with _oxygen_.
_Eleven_ parts of hydrogen, and _eighty-nine_ of oxygen, form water.
55. _Is hydrogen found elsewhere?_
It is never found but in a state of combination; united with oxygen,
it exists in _water_; with nitrogen, in _ammonia_; with chlorine, in
_hydro-chloric acid_; with fluorine, in _hydro-fluoric acid_; and in
numerous other combinations.
56. _Is the gas used to illuminate our streets, hydrogen gas?_
It is; but it is combined with carbon, derived from the coals from
which it is made. It is therefore called _carburetted hydrogen_, which
means _hydrogen_ with _carbon_.
57. _How is hydrogen gas obtained from coals?_
It is driven out of the coals by heat, in closed vessels, which prevent
its union with _oxygen_.
58. _What becomes of the water which is formed by the burning of
hydrogen in oxygen?_
It passes into the air in the form of watery vapour. Frequently it
condenses, and may be seen upon the walls and windows of rooms where
many lights or fires are burning. Sometimes, also, portions of it
become condensed in the globes of the glasses that are suspended over
the jets of gas. _A large volume of these gases forms only a very small
volume of water._
59. _What becomes of the carbonic acid gas which is produced by
combustion?_
It is diffused in the air, which should be removed by adequate
ventilation.
[Verse: "I will both lay me down in peace and sleep: for thou, Lord,
only, makest me dwell in safety."--PSALM IV.]
60. _What proportion of carbonic acid gas is dangerous to life?_
Any proportion over the natural one of 1 per cent. may be regarded as
_injurious_. But toxicologists state that _five per cent._ of carbonic
acid gas in the atmosphere is _dangerous_ to life.
61. _What are toxicologists?_
Persons who study the nature and effects of poisons and their antidotes.
62. _Which kind of combustible used for lighting tends most to vitiate
the air?_
Assuming all the lights to be of the same intensity, the degree in
which the substances burnt would vitiate the atmosphere may be gathered
from the number of minutes each would take to exhaust a given quantity
of air. This has been found to be: rape oil, 71 minutes; olive oil, 72;
Russian tallow, 75; town tallow, 76; sperm oil, 76; stearic acid, 77;
wax candles, 79; spermaceti candles, 83; common coal gas, 98; canal
coal gas, 152. Thus it is shown that rape oil is _most destructive_ of
the atmosphere, and that coal gas is the _least destructive_.
63. _Is an escape of hydrogen gas from a gas-pipe dangerous to life?_