ce water?

MRS. B.

Undoubtedly. In order to make the formation of the water sensible to
you, I shall procure a fresh supply of hydrogen gas, by putting into
this bottle (PLATE VIII. fig. 6.) iron filings, water, and sulphuric
acid, materials similar to those which we have just used for the same
purpose. I shall then cork up the bottle, leaving only a small orifice
in the cork, with a piece of glass-tube fixed to it, through which the
gas will issue in a continued rapid stream.

CAROLINE.

I hear already the hissing of the gas through the tube, and I can feel a
strong current against my hand.

MRS. B.

This current I am going to kindle with the candle--see how vividly it
burns----

EMILY.

It burns like a candle with a long flame. But why does this combustion
last so much longer than in the former experiment?

MRS. B.

The combustion goes on uninterruptedly as long as the new gas continues
to be produced. Now if I invert this receiver over the flame, you will
soon perceive its internal surface covered with a very fine dew, which
is pure water----

CAROLINE.

Yes, indeed; the glass is now quite dim with moisture! How glad I am
that we can see the water produced by this combustion.

EMILY.

It is exactly what I was anxious to see; for I confess I was a little
incredulous.

MRS. B.

If I had not held the glass-bell over the flame, the water would have
escaped in the state of vapour, as it did in the former experiment. We
have here, of course, obtained but a very small quantity of water; but
the difficulty of procuring a proper apparatus, with sufficient
quantities of gases, prevents my showing it you on a larger scale.

The composition of water was discovered about the same period, both by
Mr. Cavendish, in this country, and by the celebrated French chemist
Lavoisier. The latter invented a very perfect and ingenious apparatus to
perform, with great accuracy, and upon a large scale, the formation of
water by the combination of oxygen and hydrogen gases. Two tubes,
conveying due proportions, the one of oxygen, the other of hydrogen gas,
are inserted at opposite sides of a large globe of glass, previously
exhausted of air; the two streams of gas are kindled within the globe,
by the electrical spark, at the point where they come in contact; they
burn together, that is to say, the hydrogen combines with the oxygen,
the caloric is set at liberty, and a quantity of water is produced
exactly equal, in wei