Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-02-24
From the Boston Journal Of Chemistry
Chemistry Of n Pint Of Kerosene.

elements hydrogen and carbon Both
of these are eOmbustible, or possess
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 orgaL lied earbOnaceOus
bodies, being mainly water and car
bOnic acid.
1 Estimating carefully the amount of
light afforded by a measured quantity
of kerosene, and contrasting it, in
price, with gas, sperm oil, wax can
dies, etc, it is found to be far less cost
ly than either; and it is so convent
ent and cleanly, its discovery must be
regarded as blessing to the race.
So much has been said respecting
the erpLOsiUe nature of kerosene, this
point demands consideration. A gen.
eral impression prevails among con-
sumers that kerosene is explosive, and
its use attended with a considerable
amount of danger. Such, however,
is not the case; it is no more explO-
sive than water; and the employment
of prOperly-prepared oil is safe under
all ordinary conditions. 1t is import
/ ant that there should be a clear un-
derstanding of the nature of kerosene,
the cause of accidents, and the eOndi-
tiOns under which they occur
1t has been stated, kerosene 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 extinguishes flame, if ex-
/ perimented with atthe usual tempera-
4 INV Of
/ dents occur from two causes first,
! imperfect manufacture of the article;
/ second, authorizations. An imperfect
! ly manufactured oil is that which re-
suits when the distillation has been
carried on at too low temperature, and
/ a portion of the naphtha remains in it.
Authorizations are largely made by un-
principled dealers, who add 20 or 80
/ per 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, gasO-
/ leine, ETC., are very volatile, infiam-
mable, and dangerous. They, how
/ ever, in themselves, are not explosive;
/ neither are they capable of furnish
ing any gas, when placed in lamps,
( which Is explosive Accidents of
I this nature are due entirely to the ia
! cility with which UdpOr is produced
! from them at low temperatures. But,
/ the vapOT by itself is ineXplOsive; to
/ render it so, IL must be nlired l0ith air.
/ A lamp may be filled with bad kerO-
| sene, or the vapOr even, and no pOssi-
/ bic way can it detOnate, or explode;
unless atmospheric air has somehow
/ got mixed with the vapOr. 4 lamp,
/ therefore, full, or nearly full, of the
/ liquid Is safe; and also, one full of
I pure warm vapor is safe. Explosions
I generally occur when the lamp is
/ first lighted without being filled, and
/ also late in the evening, when the
/ fluid is nearly exhausted. The reas-
/ on of this will readily be seen. In
using imperfect or adulterated kero-
sene, the space above the line of oil is
always filed with vapOr; and so long
as it is warm, and rising freely, no
air can reach it, and it is safe. At
I bedtime, when the family retire, the
/ light is eXtinguished the lamp cools,
/ a portion of the vapOr is condensed
| this creates a partial vacuum in the
/ space which is instantly filled with
air. The mixture is now more or
/ less explosive; and when, upon the
next evening, the lamp is lighted
without replenishing with oil, as is
often done, an explosion is liable to
take place. Late in the evening, when
the oil is nearly consumed, and the
space above filled with Vapor, the
lamp cannot explode so long as it re-
mains at rest upon the table But
take it in hand, agitate it, carry it in
to cool room, the vapor is cooled,
air passes in, and the vapOr becomes
explosive. y case of lamp explosion
came to the writer's knowledge few
years since, which was occasiOned by
taking a lamp from the table to ans
wer a ring at the door bell The cool
outside air; which impinged upon the
lamp in the hands of the lady, rapid
ly condensed the vapor, air passed in, /.
an explosion occurred, which resulted /
fatally. If the lamp had been full of I
fluid, this accident could not have Oe-
CURED. Before carrying it tOthe door
flame might have been thrust into the .
lamp with safety; the vapOr would .
have ignited, but no explosion could .
have taken place.
This brief explanation will serve to .
show the cause of lamp explosions /
We hear much said about dangerous
gases being formed in lamps, but this .
is an error. In burning the most dan I
gerOus kinds of kerosene, no deeom {
position takes place, resulting in the /
formation of explosive gases. The .
whole hazard comes from air-mixed .
vapo-.
But how can we be positively assu .
red of safety in the use of kerosene? .
How can we know of the quality or
character of the article offered US by
dealers? These are important ques-
tions, which will naturally arise in .
the mind of the reader. We answer,
there is positive assurance of safety, if .
pure well manufactured kerosene is
consumed. We do not believe a seri
Gus accident ever occurred from kerO-
sene, the inflammable point of which /
was above 1I0o F. and this is the le- /
gal standard. During the past fifteen |
years the writer has made a large /
number of experiments upon burning |
fluids, and Investigated thoroughly 4
the conditions under which accidents |
occur in their use. Personal investi- |
CATION has been made of the alleged /
cases of explosions, many of which 4
have been reported, and therefore /
opinions are expressed upon the sub
lGINt W III a AINAAhE- u NAASAA
correctness.
Purchases made direct, of long es-
tablished, reputable manufacturers. /
afford assurances of safety. But such /
are not readily accessible, and in most |
cases a supply is sought from the near !
est dealer, without any knowledge I
being had of the source from whence /
it comes, or its character or quality
If consumers are willing to be put to 4
little trouble, a simple experiment 1
will determine the safety of the kerO- |
sene they purchase. Fill pint bowl .
two-thirds full of boiling water, and
into it put a common metallic ther- .
mometer. The temperature will run
up to over 2OO0, and then pour into the .
bowl a spoonful of the kerosene, and .
apply n lighted match. If it takes .
fire, the article should be rejected as
dangerous; if not, it may be used with 2
a confident feeling of its safety. In .
this experiment, which Is the most .
simple that can be devised, the fire
test is directly applied. Upon prac-
tical trials it has been found to afford
correct results.
There are several enaetments, both
state and national, against the sale Of
kerosene of dangerous character;
but, as in the case of many other ar
ticles subjected to adulterating pro-
. 4 Il