[Illustration: Fig. 116.]
5th. Having some finely pulverised loaf-sugar and some chlorate of
potash, also in powder, the same quantity in weight of each, they are
well mixed together and placed in a crockery vessel, which will prevent
injury to the table or stand. Having a glass rod for a wand, you have
but to dip one end in sulphuric acid, and touch the compound with it, to
produce a vivid flame.
6th. In a small retort put an ounce of a strong liquor of potash in
water, and one drachm of phosphorus. Dip the mouth of the retort half an
inch under water in a saucer. Gradually heat the liquid in the retort
with a spirit-lamp until it boils. In a few minutes the retort will be
filled with a white cloud, then the gas generated will begin to bubble
at the end of the saucer; a minute more, each bubble, as it issues from
the boiling fluid, will _spontaneously take fire_ as it comes into the
air, forming at the mouth a ring.
7th. Into the jar of chlorine gas pour finely powdered charcoal, when a
display of great beauty will be made.
8th. A grain of potassium mixed with the same quantity of sodium is to
have a drop of quicksilver added to it, when agitation of the three will
cause them to ignite and burn brightly.
9th. Potassium and sulphur, heated together, will show a brilliant
light. Or, holding some nitre on a metal plate, flowers of sulphur
sprinkled on it will ignite. Be careful not to breathe the fumes of
sulphur at any time. Iron filings thrown upon red-hot nitre will burn
and explode.
10th. Put some phosphorus in a bottle of water, in the proportion of ten
grains of the former in one ounce of the latter, and, boiling it over a
lamp, fire will burst forth, each particle of the phosphorus becoming a
flaming ball, which will beautifully coruscate.
11th. Make a solution of tartaric acid, which, poured into sugar of lead
dissolved in distilled water, will precipitate a white powder. Dry this
sediment, and put it into a glass phial. Cover this with clay, and bake
it in an oven. Now you can put this phial upon a charcoal fire, which
you will increase in power until the glass is red-hot and no smoke
leaves the mouth; stopper it up with a dab of clay or a lump of mastic,
and take it away from the fire to cool. The contents are now fine
powdered lead intermingled with the charcoal of the tartaric acid, which
will take fire on contact with the open air. Iron and other metals, when
reduced to an impalpable powder, will similarly ignite in the common
air.