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PROOFS OF THE PROPERTIES OF HIDROGEN GAS.

203

level of the water in the pneumatic trough, then apply a lightedtaper to the upper extremity of the tube, the gas will take fireand exhibit a candle, which will burn till all the gas is ex-hausted.

Artificial fire-works may be constructed by filling bladders withhidrogen gas, and connecting them with revolving jets, tubes,Src. bent in different directions and formed into various figures,which are pierced with holes of different sizes. The air beingforced through these holes by pressing the bladders, will, wheninflamed, exhibit a curious fire-work without noise or smoke.

It is on similar principles that Mr. Cartwright's fire-workswere formed.

By the combination of the inflammable property of hidrogen gasand the effects of electricity, a curious philosophical lamp has beeninvented by Volta, which by the turning of a stop-cock only,may instantly be lighted many hundred times: for a particulardescription of which we refer our readers to Adams’s Lectureson Natural Philosophy, vol. II. p. 98.

All these experiments show that hidrogen gas, which is notin-flammable when alone, possesses that property when in contactwith atmospheric air.

Hidrogen gas burns in proportion as it is environed with alarger quantity of atmospheric air, or oxigen gas. As hidrogengas, and oxigen, or atmospheric air have a like aggregation, it ispossible to mix them in such a manner, as that every particle ofeach gas shall be contiguous to a particle of the other, in whichcase they will burn with great rapidity.

Experiment VIII.

Fill a strong bottle capable of holding about four ounces ofwater in such a manner that there may be one part of hidrogengas and two of atmospheric air. On applying a lighted taperthe mixture will not burn silently, but the whole will ex-