Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 February 1884 — Making Flowers of Soap-Bubbles. [ARTICLE]

Making Flowers of Soap-Bubbles.

A pretty experiments has been described by the well-known Belgian physicist, M. Plateau. He bends flue iron wire, so as to present the contour of a flower of six petals. The central ring to which the petals are attached is supported on a forking str which is stuck in a piece of wood. After oxidizing the wire slightly with weak nitric acid the flower is dipped in glyceric liquid so as to r-' ceive films in the petals and the centi part. It is then turned up, placed on table near a window and covered with bell jar. For a little at first it appears color! ei but soon a striking play of colors coi mences. In the experiment, M. Plate; describes, the flower continued showii. modifications of color for ten hourß, when dusk stopped observation. Next morning several petals had burst. The liquid used was of very mediocre quality. M. Plateau recommends preparation of the liquid thus: Dissolve a fresh piece of Marseilles soap, cut up into small Sieces, in forty parts by weight of bo+ istilled water. Filter after . mix thoroughly three volume*, oi the solution with two of Price s glycerine. The solution shonld be left at rest till all the air bubbles are gone. London Timet.