Five Hundred Useful and Amusing Experiments in Chemistry, and in the Arts and Manufactures; With Observations on the Properties Employed, and Their Application to Useful Purposes

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1825. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... 567.--To Bleach Silk by Sulphurous Acid. Into a glass retort put a quantity of sulphuric acid, to which add a little powdered charcoal; apply the heat of a lamp, and gas will be formed very abundantly. Let this gas pass into an inverted jar, standing on the shelf of a pneumatic trough, and when it is full of the gas introduce a piece of white silk, or spoiled ribbon, moistened with .water, and in a few minutes it will not only become perfectly white, but it will acquire a fine shining lustre. Observation.--Silks are now bleached in the large way by being exposed in a moist state, in close chambers, to the fumes of sulphurous acid, generated by the combustion of sulphur with nitre. PREPARATION AND RECTIFICATION OF SPIRITS, ETHERS, &c. 363. -- To rectify Spirits. Put a quantity of the spirits to be rectified into a still, or alembic, and redistil it; the first portion that comes over is a fine light liquid, which is termed rectified spirits, but is sold in the shops under the name of alcohol. 569.--7'0 rectify Spirits by a still easier Process. Fill a bladder about half full of spirits of wine, whisky, or other ardent spirits, and close the orifice; then expose 146 PREPARATION AND RECTIFICATION the bladder to the sun, or the heat of a stove, and in a short time the spirits will be highly rectified. Observation.--In this way may all the water be evaporated, without losing any of the spirits; for the bladder is, in fact, a filter which allows the passage of the water but retains the alcohol. 370.-- To prepare pure Alcohol. Put a quantity of spirits of wine into a glass vessel, and add subcarbonate of potash perfectly dry, then shake the mixture well, and afterwards decant the clear liquor. Repeat this operation as often as the potash absorbs any moisture, and when n...