Conversations on Chemistry, V. 1-2 / In Which the Elements of that Science Are Familiarly Explained and Illustrated by Experiments

by Mrs. Marcet

CAROLINE.

Pray, let me try to do it, Mrs. B.

MRS. B.

It requires some little dexterity—hold the bottle completely under water, and do not turn the mouth upwards, till it is immediately under the aperture in the shelf, through which the gas is to pass into the receiver, and then turn it up gradually.—Very well, you have only let a few bubbles escape, and that must be expected at a first trial.—Now I shall put this piece of sulphur into the receiver, through the opening at the top, and introduce along with it a small piece of lighted tinder to set fire to it.—This requires being done very quickly, lest the atmospherical air should get in, and mix with the pure oxygen gas.

EMILY.

How beautifully it burns!

CAROLINE.

But it is already buried in the thick vapour. This, I suppose, is sulphuric acid?

EMILY.

Are these acids always in a gaseous state?