Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-04-16
THE VERMONT PHGlN1X BRATTLEBORO APRIL 49, IS


NhemtHtrg - Applied 90 DOmesttc Econ
Omy.
DR.. Sue White of Chicago recently read
an interesting and instructive paper from
which We take the following extracts:
The bleaching properties of chloride of
lime are due to this same characteristic of
chlorine, that is, the power of breaking up
organic compounds Stains are removed
from cloth by salts Of lemon or common
salt and vinegar placed upon the stain and
exposing the article to the strong sunlight,
10y virtue Of the same property The acid
uniting to the sodium sets the chlorine free,
which, under the influence of light, is very
active, and attracts hydrogen more pow
erfully than when kept awpy from the light.
But the little package of chloride Of lime.
which we had left over from our bleaching
experiment if left even in the vicinity of our
china closet. plays queer pranks with the sill
yer, by giving it a very unusual coat OF hard,
glossy blue-black. The more it is exposed to
light the darker it becomes. This is chloride
of silver blackened by light 1t will not yield
to acid like other stains on silver, but am
monia will readily remove it in form of am.
chloride, which is soluble in water The us
ual blackening of silver is due to the forma-
ton upon its surface of sulphide Of silver
from the sulphurous anhydrides which inn
pregnate the atmosphere from coal gas, ilu-
minating gas, lighting matches, or from the
presence Of any kind of rubber goods in the
vicinity Of our silver, since the manufacture
Of rubber goods employs sulphur for harden
ing purposes, and for destroying the gummy
properties Of the rubber; and the presence of
this element will soon be recorded upon the
surface of our silver, even though not ia di-
rect contact with it, or when our senses fail
to detect it. This stain yields readily to ac-
ids of any kind, since the sulphide of silver
is easily soluble in acids
The suspicion with which people regard
the color Of green has its origin from the
poisonous character Of single pigment
known as Scheeles green or Paris green,
which is chemically arsenate of copper, "A
compound of copper and arsenious acid
which latter is the arsenic Of medicine. This
green, whether in wall paper, paper boxes, or
wherever found, may be detected by drop
of ammonia, which at once changes the color
to blue or, if the substance be put in water,
so as to form a solution, the addition of am
monia forms instantly beautiful blue pre-
ciptate.
"Our drinking water is sometimes poison
ed by the presence of lead from the lead
pipes, aud may be the occasion Of lead collie
We may easily discover this presence of lead
in solution 10y adding sulphur or sulphide of
ammonia which, if traces of lead are present
VIII lIOuuCt u bIONu COlOT III the water
the sulphide of lead The same color will be
produced upon fresh paint by the presence Of
noxious gases containing sulphuretted hydro
gen. Hence vessels made of lead. or solder
cd with lead, as tin pans aud the like should
be avoided for acid articles Lead when
taken into the system unites with certain It's
sues, and is retained there until finally sul
cient accumulates to produce poisoning
Large doses produce acute cole, but chron-
ic poisoning is far more common. and pro.
ducrs paralysis. especially of the forcarms,
causing the wrists to drop. Or it may pro.
duce only general prostitution and symptoms
of dyspepsia Lead washes such as solu-
tons of sugar of lead. should never be used
externally, as in burns, or those slowly per
nicious compounds called hair restoratives
For authorizations of articles of domestic
use the most common substances used are
-four and chalk In articles soluble in water
either of these substances may be detected
by heat they may be distinguished from each
other; :he -four being convertible into starch
which. when cold, furnishes further test if
necessary 10y the addition of iodine, which it
changes instantly to blue. Chalk may also
be detected by the addition of sulphuric acid
which, taking possession Of the lime. allows
the carbonic acid to escape. causing eferves.
ceuce.
1T is important in a domestic point Of
view that We should be familiar with both the
common or commercial names of articles and
the chemical names as for instance, that
saltpetre is chemically a nitrate of sodium or
potassium. Copperas is the sulphate of iron.
Blue vitriol is sulphate of copper In concu-
sion, the only way to make chemistry of rea
value, as applied to domestic economy. is to
know chemistry. No science is of more i'm
portance, none that brings US into such close
relations with nature, and yet no science SO
much neglected. With only SO chemical
elements known. and less than half of these
at all common, it would seem that every per
sou ought to be as familiar with their names
As of those of the letters of the alphabet. for
indeed these chemicals are the alphabet of
the material universe. More physics and
less metaphysics would make US more practi-
caliy wise and fit us for more useful lives"