Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-12-16
From Tic Ne,c Tork 0bsTc0
Coal in the Hands of a Chemist.

understand that the conversion oil 4 lump o'
that black, pitcby-looking substance, which We
call coal, into liquid as thin and as clear as
water. must be the result OF several operations.
To coal. in the hands Of chemist, assisted by
heat aud a little manipulation, we arc indebted
for some very strange compounds, singular IN
their production, aud more singular in their
effects. We DO not affirm hat this is true Of
an kinds OF coal, as anthracite would not an
swer the purpose; but for dry dis,iil'ilon lthe
heating Of anything in close vessels where al
rnospheric air is excluded soft coal is em-
ploycd. The products Of our gas works F'cIe
not always convertible, through a lack OF
chemical knowledge, aud although "e had the
material on hand, we inported it from dis
tance. Take as an illustration, the simple ar
ticle Of sal ammoniac which was formerly inn
ported from Egypt, being distilled near the
temple Of Jupiter Ammon, whence its name,
but now i. is calculated that in England alone
about 600 tons Of this salt is annually ob-
tained from the ammouiacal liquor produced
in the manufacture Of gas. SOme Of d" the
/ lost arts" appear to have been fouaj. Lydia,
the seller of the purple Of the city Of Thyati-
ra, is no louger with US, hut we have tie pur-
pie from coal tar, easily obtained; it may be
quite as bright, but we arc forced to admit not
SO d1raJl', or permanent, as The celebrated
Tyrian dye.
If we coull follow one ton Of Newcastle
coal into the gas works, we should end that
this quantity, weighing 2.24o pounds, will
usually yield 5000. to 10000 cubic feet o'
gas. besides 1894 pounds of coke, about 10
gallons Of ammoniacal liquor, auI about y
gallons Of tar. luow much profit is maze by
our gas companies on this basis, aod at Ihc
p,esent price Of coal aud gas we leave for
wiser heads to detcrmiae Here we have four
products from coal, viz: gas, coke, ammonia
cal lcuor aal tar. THIS tar from The gas
works finds its way to the tar dia'llers, aud
from The still we obtaiu other four products.
viz; nap:ha, light oil, dead oil, aud pitch. The
naptha. after distillaiion and subsequent pnrih-
ifcatior, is as clear as water, and was for long
tine used only as a solvent for India rubber,
till the chemist came along aud said it contain
ei benzole (not bauzineO. Two gallons ofnap-
tha furnishing about one pint Of benzole, and
from this substance, treated with nitric acid,
we obtain the wonderful auiice dyes, which
have created sacL revolution in the art Of
dyeins and printing. The process, simpiihed,
is to take bsuzole aud mix certain amount
Of pilric acid with it this is converted iuto
uitro-berz le. which is reduced 10 auiine.-
! After apilipe Is formed. the various cJors arc
nroAnccl from it chiefly by treating ii with
nitrate Of potash, chlgrate Of potash aud 9th
er substances The ojor Of nitro benzole Is
Ike the oil Of bitter almonds, aud is much
used to scent soaps, also to favor coniestion-
ery. Il is estimated that three tons Of coal
will yield l8 pounds Of raptha 6 pounds Of
bcnzolc, pounds Of aniline, lPound Of ma
scrta, which will dye coo pounds Of silk or
900 pounds Of wool
Magenta in solution is a beautiful purple
bnt in the solid crystal bright brorze green
Another approximate amount by Mr. PcTkin
gives. for 100 pounds Of coal, y ounces Of tar,
| 81 ounces Of naptba, q ounces Of beozllc, a
ounces Of nitfo-bauzole, p ounces Of ani'ioe.
ounce Of mauve. Only / ounce Of mauye
/ from 700 pounds Of coal seems a very small
amount but there is one thing we should re-
member. viz. the intensity Of the colorina
matter illustrated by this fact Take a large
carbov holding 0 gallons Of water aud add to
this a solution containing one grain of msuye.
and this single grain will color this large bnlk
Of water. A gallon Of water containing TO-
600 grains. gallons G30O0O grains. This
solution then only requires one part Of mauye
to color $50, % arts Of water. Respecting
the dead oil previously mentioned, it Da'
drug in the mark tl It was found TO contain
crcosa;e or carbolic acid. The creosate is now
used f1r the purpose Of preserving timber, and
the carbylic acid is rendered so pure rs to be
ftfor medicinal purposes, and is taken in Ere-
land and America as a cure for iatermiteut f.
yer.
Space forjils our stating bow many differ
cut substances arc found which, II they could
sreak. would trace their ancestry 20 a lump Of
coal but what woulI our grauamothers say
iftbey could be told that now they could light
their houses with an Invisible gas, tighten their
pastry. favor their cakes dyc 'hcird dresses, and
cure fever. with materials which tloy burnt
every day, in tie condensed orm q c3al?-
There is. however onc part of the picture left
untouched, aad it must be painted. for we are
crediby Informed tia. larse amount Il ar
se9ic IS uscl 10 some auiline colors, TO chApen
their production. TIE medical journals fur
nish. ever and anon, sad illustrations Of its
,rnth. and plainly tell US not 70 wear any ma
terial aext the skin which IS dyel With col
orins matter composed Of anything in tic
shape of arsenic, aud we say 70 all, avoid, as
you wonli avoid the plague, al eiefP bright
colon in Garnels, stockings, soaps, hsir gi's or
candies: There Is death in tic pot There
arc 7sspostable makers Of aailias dyes wh1 b
rot use arsenic; patroniza them and Insist that
YOU he supplied with what cla be depended
upon, ia every respect eleauly aud Conducive to
health altbouyh il BE- dyed With the essence Of