Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-16
SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS.

oSI1N ~ 1ROG3s6oos
BEHAVIOR OF METALS IN SoLIDIFYING.
The question is again before scientists for
discussion whether the expansion of bodies
on heating and contraction on cooling &C.
cur, as rule, in the passage from the
solid to the liquid state, or vice versa !?
Ice, it is well known, behaves differently,
and is regarded as an exception. Kopp's
researches have shown that phosphorus,
sulphur, wax, stearic acid, stearide, chic
ride of calcium, phosphate of soda,
hyposulphate of soda, and Roses metal
grow larger in volume when fused. OBJ
servations made in the past concerning
metals, give very discordant results, and
therefore Mes and Winkelmann have
lately studied the question anew. AS a
foundation experiment, the solid metal
was put into the fused metal. In certain
cases the difference of density could not
be measured. For instance, tin, in solidi-
fying, is increased in volume : per cent. /;
zinc is increased 2 per cent; solid bismuth
is fully 3 per cent. less dense than the
fused metal. Expansion in solidify-
ing was also demonstrated for antimony,
iron or copper. Indecisive results were
obtained with lead and cadmium ; lead pre-
sented difficulties in the probably very
small difference of density as a solid and as
liquid, its small heat conductivity and
heat of fusion; and cadmium in the fact
that in fusion it passes first into a
viscous state. Thus of the eight
metals examined, six distinctly showed
expansion in solidifying and expansion
may occur in lead and cadmium. If these
experiments stand good, expansion would
seem to be the rule for metals.
THE OCEAN LEvEL.-M. II. Trautschild,
of Moscow, lately sent in a paper to the
Geological Society of France, maintaining
that the level of the ocean was not invaria-
bic. in which he expressed the following
conclusions L. The level of the sea has
fallen, as parts of the earth's crest have
risen from the bottom above its surface.
2. The surface of nearly all the continents
has once been at the bottom of the sea, and
has risen from the waters, partly in conse-
quence OF upheavals, partly in consequence
of the retreat of the ocean. 3. When the
continents have been formed, part of the
waters of the sea is carried away from
them, and held ON the land as lakes, rivers,
eternal SHOWS and as a constituent of or
ganic matter-thus the quantity of water in
the ocean has been constantly diminished,
and its level has fallen. 4. As the earth cools,
ice accumulates near the poles and on the
mountains, water is soaked down more
deeply into the crust of the earth, and
mineral hydrates are formed everywhere.
1t follows that the level of the sea has been
gradually falling ever since water has ex-
listed as liquid upon the earth.
INTERESTING ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIscov-
RRY.-A recent freshet of the Coosa river,
Georgia, washed away the surface soil from
large tract of land. After the water had
subsidized the washed land was found to be
an ancient battlefield and burying ground.
Part of the territory consisted of mounds,
evidently Notifications. These were strewn
with implements of aboriginal warfare,
beads and earthen vessels. The remainder
of the ground was covered with skeletons,
all perfectly exposed, and all in good
preservation. A press dispatch from
Rome, Ca, April ID, says : "The
place is attracting crowds from all
directions, and it is almost impos-
sible to prevent vandalism from seri-
ously impairing what will undoubtedly
prove to science one of the richest finds
ever made on the American continent.
Among the countless number of Indian
pipes found, is one of great size and ex-
ceedingly fine workmanship, the bowl OF
which is carved with great skill into the
form of human head.
ATOMS OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS AND
ELECTRICITY. Professor Helmholtz, in his
recent Faraday lecture, affirms that the
atom OF every chemical element is always
united with definite unvarying quantity
of electricity. This quantity stands in
close connection with the combining power
of the atom, or its quantivalenee. If the
amount OF electricity of the monad atom be
taken as the unit, that of the dyad is two,
that of the triad three, etc. Professor
Helmholtz says "If we conclude from
the facts that every unit of affinity of ev.
cry atom is charged always with one equiv
alent either OF positive or negative electric
ity, they can form compounds, being
electrically neutral, only if every unit
charged positively unite under the intiu.
ence OF mighty electric attraction with
another unit charged negatively. This
ought to produce compounds in which ev.
cry unit of affinity Of every atom is con-
nected with one-and only with one-other
unit of another atom. This is, indeed, the
modern chemical theory of quantivalence,
comprising all the saturated compounds.
PAPYRoTILE. Under this name, the
London Building and Engineering Time,
describes the latest novelty in products for
decorative treatment of interiors. Papy.
rotile is neither paper nor tile, but tough
plant fabric, in substance Ike leather,
though artifcially composed of prepared
materials which result in non-conductor
of heat and sound. These quasi-tiles may
be advantageously employed for wall or
ceiling decorations simply by the aid Of
glue or other cement, and are readily
cleaned by the ordinary dust-brush. The
decoration is applied in one or more colors
to straight or curved lines, either fiat or in
high relief.
THE LARGEST PyRAMID.-W believe it
is not generally known that the largest
known pyramid rests ON American soil.
The Pyramid of Pueblo, in Mexico, is
larger than the great Pyramid of Cheops,
in Egypt The latter covers only
fourteen acres, while the Mexican one
covers forty-four acres of ground, and was
originally 600 feet high. It is made of SUM-
dried brick, and is supposed to have been
built ], 200 years ago.