Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1892 — FOR CURIOUS BOYS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FOR CURIOUS BOYS.

How to Have Fua with Gunpowder and a Glass of Water. Gunpowder, as is well known, is composed of potassic nitrate (saltpeter), sulphur and charcoal. Of these ingredients the first is very soluble in water and the others insoluble. The amateur chemist can

perform an interesting experiment by separating the soluble salt. It is only necessary to place a little gunpowder in a glass half filled with water and allow It to stand a day or so In a warm place—such as a sunny windowsill. The saltpeter will first dissolve in the water, and then creeping up the sides of the glass will crystallize around the edge, as shown in the illustration. The creeping property of certain salts is a very interesting —and sometimes a very annoying—one to the .chemist. Ammoniac chloride, or sal ammoniac, possesses it in a high degree, and it may often be observed incrusting the edges of electric batteries, in which its solution is usdd as an exciting agent. It may he prevented by covering the edges of the vessel containing it with grease, wax or paraffin. The residue left in the tumbler consists pf sulphur and charcoal, but there is no simple method of separating them. The sulphur will dissolve in bisulphide of carbon, but we cannot recommend the use of this inflammable and offensive liquid to the amateur in chemistry.

A SIMPLE METHOD OF ANALYSIS.