The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-03-04
81 (Frpnl the Boston Journal Of Gi4onistay9
cHEM1sTRr OF A PINT oF&xERosEN:

4 ST lFrpm the Boston Journal Of GfcnIistry9; q,
CHEMISTRY OF APIST oFsxERosENE.l
iiaI Kerosenebis asspnrc hydroscarborr
liquid, that is, Ia liquid made uI, of the
elements hydrogen and carbon. Both
Bof these are coInbustible, or possess a
strong affinity for oxygen; and asso-
eiated together, as in kerosene, they
afford luminous flame when burned
by uniting with oxygen. The results
or products, of combustion differ in
no respect from those which proceed
from other organized earbonaeeous
bodies, being mainly water and CAP.
i bonic acid 1891 II sos ftsI .liG'H III
Hn Estimating carefully the amount Of
light afforded by measured quantity
Pof kerosene, and contracting it, in
price, with gas, sperm oil, wax candles,
ETC., it is found to be far less costly
than either and it is SO convenient
and clean1y. its discovery must be re-
! garded as a blessing to the race e5y
is2 So much has been said respecting
the erplosice nature of kerosene, this
fpoint demands consideration A GEN
eraf impressions prevails among con-
sumers that keroseneis esptoSfee,, and
its use attended with d considerable
amount Of danger. Such, however.
is not the case;;sit is no more explo-
sive than water; and the employment
of properly prepared oil is safe under
all ordinary conditions. It is impor-
tant that there should be clear UNDER
Iistanding of the nature Of Kerosene,
I the cause Of accidents, and the condi-
tions under which they occur. q fi2@9z
It has been stated, kerosense IS not
explosive. A lighted taper may be
thrust into it, or flame applied in any
way, and it does not explode. On the
contrary, it exting guishes flame, if ex-
perimented with at the usual tempera-
| ture Of our rooms. Kerosene acci-
dents occur from two causes; first,
imperfect manufacture Of the article /;
second, aduIterations. An imperfect
I ly manufactured oil is that which re-
suits when the distillaffon has been
carried on at too low temperature, and
a portion Of the naphtha remains in il.
Authorizations are largely made by nn-
principled dealers, who add 90 or 80
Eper cent. Of naphtha after it leaves the
manufacturers hands. The light
naphthas which have been spoken Of,
as known in commerce under the
names of benzine, benzoline, gasoleine,
ETC., are very volatile, infammable,
and dangerous. They, however, in
1 themselves, are not explosive. neith-
er are they capable Of furnishing any
gas, when placed in lamps, which is
Eexplosive. Accidents Of this nature
are due entirely to the facility with
| which vdpor is produced from them at
low temperatures. But, the yapor by
itself is inexplosive; to render it so,
1t mast be .mired .eeith, DIR. a lamp
maybe, filed with bad kerosene, or the
4 vapor even, and no possible way can
it detonate, or explode; unless atmos-
4 pherie air has somehow got mixed
with the. vapor. A lamp, therefore,
full or nearly, full, Of the liquid is
safe; and also, one full of pure warm
j.vapor is safe, Explosions. generally
4 occur when the lamp is first lighted
without being; filled, and also late in
| the evening, when the fluid is nearly
'iIexhausted. The reason of this will
| readily be seen, In using imperfect
Tor adulterated kerosene, the space
laboye the line Of oil is always filled
| with vapor; and so long as it is warm,
and rising freely, no air can reach il,
and it is safe. AT bedtime, when the
| family retire, the lights extinguished /;
the lamp cools,, q portion of the yapor
is condensed; this creates partial
4 vacuum in the space which is instant
| ly filled with air. The mixture is now
4 more ForIsless explosipei; and when,
upon the next egening, the lamp is
| lighted without repienishing WITHHOLD,
as is often done, an explosion is liable
to take place. Late iinithe evening,
when the oil is nearly consumed; and
the space above filled with yapor, the
lamp cannot explode so long as it re-
mains at rest upon the table. But take
it in hand, agitate it, carry itintoa a
cool room, the vapor is cooled, air
passes in, and the vapof becomes ex-
plosiYe. A9Fcase Off lamp explosion
came to the writer's knowledgea few
{. years since, which was occasioned by
taking lamp from the table to nan-
'swer ring at the door bell The cool
outside air which impinged upon the
lamp in the hands Of the lady, rapid.
4 ly condensed the vapor, air passed in,
an explosion occurred, which resulted
4 fatality If the lamp hadib full of
fluid, this accident could not have oc-
CURED. Before carrying tito The door
flame might have been thrust into the
lamp with SAFETY; the vapor would
have ignited, but no explosion could
have taken place.M ,4M tsd9 1oogq
This brief explanation will serve't to
show the cause Of lamp explosions
| We shear much said about dangerous
gases being formed in lamps, but this
is an error. In burning the most dam
gerous kinds Of Kerosene, no deeom-
position takes places. resulting in the
formation Of explosive gases. "The
whole hazard comes from air-miSed
| vapor. = t'.'3 80 .'.'''3 .'''A 'i'''
But how can we be positively assur-
cd of safety in the use Of Kerosene p
How can we know of the quality or.
character of the article offered us by