Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1879 — Uranine. [ARTICLE]

Uranine.

This is the most recently discovered, and perhaps the most remarkable, of all the. coal tar or analine group of coloring substances, now so extensively used for the adornment of the finest fabrics. Uranine is said, by chemists, to be the most highly fluorescent body known to science.’ Its coloring power is astonishing; a single grain will impart a marked color to nearly five hundred gallons of wattr. ;v • A most interesting experiment, which anybody may try, consists in sprinkling a few atoms of Uranine upon tbe surface of water in a glass tumbler. Each (.torn immediately sends down through tbe water what appears to bo a bright green rootlet ’• and the tumbler soon looks as if It were crowded full qf beautiful plants. The rootlets now begin to enlarge,jspre ad and eombine, until we bav«a mass of soft green colored liquid. Viewed by transmitted light, the color ehanges to a bright golden or amber hue; while a combination of green and gold will be realised, aoeordiig’to tbe position in which tho glass is held. For day or evening experiment nothing can be prettier than these trials of Uranine, which are especially entertaining for tho young folks. We are indebted for examples of the oolor to tbe editors of the Scientific American, who are sending out specimens, free of charge, to all their readers. The subscription lo the paper is $3.20 for a year, or $1.60 half year; and a better investment for the money could hardly be named.