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

by Mrs. Marcet

I have prepared several glass jars of oxy-muriatic acid gas for that purpose. In the first we shall introduce some Dutch gold leaf.—Do you observe that it takes fire?

EMILY.

Yes, indeed it does—how wonderful it is! It became immediately red hot, but was soon smothered in a thick vapour.

CAROLINE.

What a disagreeable smell!

MRS. B.

We shall try the same experiment with phosphorus in another jar of this acid.—You had better keep your handkerchief to your nose when I open it—now let us drop into it this little piece of phosphorus—

CAROLINE.

It burns really; and almost as brilliantly as in oxygen gas! But, what is most extraordinary, these combustions take place without the metal or phosphorus being previously lighted, or even in the least heated.

MRS. B.