The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-09-02
From the National Pilot.
WILL SALTPETRE EXPLODE?

Since the great fire in New York, and the
disastrous explosion which took place there,
the papers of that and other cities have been
much devoted to queries, suggestions and
theories respecting the qualities and nature
of saltpetre, aud whether, under any cir
cumstances. and if any, what, that substance
can be made to explode. All this, of course,
had its origin in the fact that the store which
was blown I'D was known to contain large
quantity of saltpetre, and was not known to
certain any gunpowder.
We have watched the discussions, and
waded through the ponderous columns OF
matter upon this subject, with no small de-
gree of interest; and this we have done from
a conviction of the high importance OF the
question 10 the public; since 1t is manifest
to all that, if this substance can be made eX-
plosive under circumstances such as ordI-
narilv nertain to fires, it should promptly be
put under such prescription as shall save
towns and cities from its dlretul effects
The ANALYSIS of this substance does not
produce explosive substances, say the che
mists. and this fact, with the other one,
namely, that it has sometimes burned,ln large
quantities, without explosion, while at others
Il has burned, as has been believed, with eX-
nlosions Of the most violent kind, has served
to involve the whole question IN the mos'
nosi,ive state of uncertainty. From this
state. we have seen nothing which appears
to 50 nearly extricate the whole subject from
difficulty. as the statement of Mr.. A. A.
% M.vns chemist. of Roxbury, Mass. That
statement we find in the Boston papers; and
sunnosinp it reliable one, based upon eX-
neriment. and not theory, it may guide us to
the desired solution OF this much VeAeu
question. Mr.. Hayes says:
uSaltpetre, or the nitrate Of potash, or
soda. alone, does not burn, or explode by
heat. however intense. 1t parts with one OF
its constituents, oxygen, by heat, and it is
TO the combination of its oxygen with other
bodies. that it owns its power OF burning
with them. Wood and fibrous substances
do NOT burn with saltpetrc, until they have
become partially charcd they then produce
deAaeration, or burn with sparks.
4 large quantity of saltpetre, enclosed
in ounnv bags, as it is usually stored, after
Gre was communicated to it, would burn
with the bags, emitting much smoke and
snsrks nrecisely as paper, which has imbl-
hed saltpetre. would 1t would not be con-
sumed: only the small quantity required to to
burn with the bags, would be changed II
an addition of burning wood or cnarcoa
we're made, to the extent of one htth the
WEIGHT of the saltpetre, an intense and con-
t;nued deAagration would result, and all the
saltpetre would be changed No EXPLOSION
worm ro1Iow FROM APPLYING FIRE TO MIN
rrprs OF CHARCOAL OR WOOD AND sALTPETRE
the rapid combustion called defiagratlon
would be produced, but unlike explosion
time would be required for the mutual ac
tions, and where the quantities were large
many hours would be necessary, before me! ne!
would cease. The recent destruction OF ire
and nroperty of New York; the loss OF
haneward hound Indiaman and her cargo
bv q similar cause, has created an anxiety
wbicb has led to many inquiries, respecting
.ha or;oin Of the explosions, attending the
hurn;n9 of the saltpetre. lneed not remhC
uon of case, which occurred at Centra
wharf about ten years since, when 'he nary
ford Packet was destroyed. me tesl'lnohy
nhtained l in the last instance, led me to make
some experiments, on the effects produced
bv % dropping water on burning mixture, mixture o o
.o,.no,re -, and charcoal. 1t was ascertain &c
that that verv small weight of water relatively
to the salltpetre, caused explosions; wn'el 1,l
n,;cht he made successive, 50 long as tile
maferials remained. The quantities OF tnt
substances acting, being increased to oelweel 1N.;
me and two hundred pounds, the aaa''lo' M
G Of water, in the form of spray, caused an eN OK
NJ uIosion. s whicn. destroyed the vessel HI ane
sbook all the buildings in the Vleln.ty' .le ne
temnerature u Of burning mixture OF sal'peue
snd ap charcoal, at the points of contact IS Su
nerior @ to that of white hot IRON, W. ana e1' III.
form Svoi is that of bubbing fluid. water ia.' .
O, ;ua on the mass, is instantly converted oG ln,t
steam, s having the elastic force Of tnai asee
in steam guns; exceeding gunpowa;e1, III oGS ds
tTuctive m energy. The red hot particles onn. as
nersed by the sudden action, pass over C. con,
siderable spaces, and the appearance 0l N''''
:. oroduced