CAROLINE.
This is, indeed, the most curious experiment we have seen yet. But pray what is that white vapour that ascends from the mixture?
MRS. B.
You are not yet enough of a chemist to understand that.—But take care, Caroline, do not approach too near it, for it has a very pungent smell.
I shall show you another instance similar to that of the water, which you observed to become warmer as it froze. I have in this phial a solution of a salt called sulphat of soda or Glauber’s salt, made very strong, and corked up when it was hot, and kept without agitation till it became cold, as you may feel the phial is. Now when I take out the cork and let the air fall upon it, (for being closed when boiling, there was a vacuum in the upper part) observe that the salt will suddenly crystallize. . . .
CAROLINE.
Surprising! how beautifully the needles of salt have shot through the whole phial!
MRS. B.
Yes, it is very striking—but pray do not forget the object of the experiment. Feel how warm the phial has become by the conversion of part of the liquid into a solid.
EMILY.