To Boil Water in a Paper Bag.—“Here is a sheet of note-paper; can you boil me a little water in it?” This would appear to be a thorough puzzler, yet it is exceedingly easy to do. Fold a piece of paper so that it will hold water, now suspend it above the flame of a lamp. The water will so readily take up all the heat that there is none left with which to burn the paper, and presently it will bubble and give off steam. (See Fig. 25.)
Fig. 25.
Illuminated Water.—Wet a lump of loaf sugar with phosphorized ether, and throw it into a basin of water in a dark room. The surface of the water will become luminous. Blow on the water, and you will have phosphorescent waves, and the air, too, will be illuminated. In winter the water should be warmed a little. If the phosphorized ether be applied to the hand or to other warm bodies these will become luminous. The ether will not injure the hand.
Brilliant Crystals.—Spread upon a plate of glass or upon a smooth slate, a few drops of nitrate of silver, previously diluted with double its quantity of soft water. Place at the bottom of it, flat upon the glass, and in contact with the fluid, a copper or zinc wire, bent to any figure, and let the whole remain undisturbed in a horizontal position. In a few hours a brilliant crystallization of metallic silver will make its appearance around the wire upon the glass, and this arrangement of crystals will extend gradually till the whole quantity of fluid has been acted on by the wire.
A Well of Fire.—Add gradually one ounce, by measure, of sulphuric acid, to five or six ounces of water in an earthenware basin; and add to it also, gradually, about three quarters of an ounce of granulated zinc. A rapid production of hydrogen gas will instantly take place. Then add, from time to time, a few pieces of phosphorus of the size of a pea. A multitude of gas bubbles will be produced, which will fire on the surface of the effervescing liquid; the whole surface of the liquid will become luminous, and fire balls, with jets of fire, will dart from the bottom through the fluid with great rapidity and a hissing noise.
The Writing on the Wall.—Take a piece of phosphorus from the bottle in which it is kept, and, while the room is lighted write upon a whitewashed wall any word or sentence, or draw any object. Now put out the light, and the writing will appear in illuminated letters. Care must be taken to dip the pencil of phosphorus in cold water frequently while you are using it. Otherwise it will burn.
To Make a Ghost.—Put one part of phosphorus into six of olive oil, and let it dissolve in a slightly warm place. Shut your eyes tightly and rub the mixture upon your face. In the dark your face will be luminous, your eyes and mouth like dark spots. Altogether you will have a very ghastly appearance. There is no danger in the experiment, and the effect might be useful in charades or home theatricals.
A Seeming Conflagration.—Take half an ounce of sal-ammoniac, one ounce of camphor, and two ounces of aqua vitae. Put them into an earthen vessel that is small at the top. Set fire to the contents, and the room will seem to be on fire.
Three Haloes.—One of the pleasing experiments of Dr. Brewster was to take a saturated solution of alum, and having spread a few drops of it over a plate of glass, it will crystallize rapidly though the crystals are so small you may scarcely see them. When this plate of glass is held between you and the sun or artificial light, with the eyes very near to the smooth side of the glass, there will be seen three beautiful haloes of light.