The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-07

When vast quantities of dynamite or nitro
glycefne 60 of, as was the case the other
day at Oakland, the disturbing effect upon
the atmosphere Is prodigious. The damage
10 cities mostly takes the eXasperating form
OF broken glass, very unforgiyabie form
OF damage
The chemical formula for nitro-g lveerine
is CO H5 No % x C3 H5 IN OF 8, O3. The
latter group is really the same IN elements
as the former, but with the radical intro
ouced 10 show the association of the nitro
gen and oxygen. The large preponderance
oil oxygen ia this molecule renders a new
combination facile beyond conception upon
the slightest jOstling of the substance. The
hydrogen and oxygen unite to form water,
the carbon and oxygen unite to form car
bOnlc dioxide, and the remainder is nitrogen
gas. The combustion is not absolutely COM
plete. but very nearly so. There appears
reason to believe that in the general reac-
ton one atom of hydrogen and one Of nitro
gen are borrowed from other molecules
breaking up at the same time-an hypothesis
which completes the theoretic circle of the
changes.
Giycerlne was discovered by Scheele in
17l9. 1t is called the sweet principle of
oils or fats, and is regarded as one OF the
alcohols. 1t is obtained from the vegetable
oils, but the largest production to-day,
ana In very pure state also, is
from the waste or Tesiduals of soap manu-
facturn. All the great soapmakers now
which was formerly allowed to go to waste
AS much as $500 ton has been paid for
Slyeerine, but the cost is now far below
that Inquire on account of increased sources
OF supply. ltwas not until 1876 that nitro
glycerine was discovered by an Italian
chemist in Paris named SObrero. The sub
stance was long only looked upon as a chem
zeal curiosity, with some limited uses in the
pharmacopeia. Nitro-glycerine is formed
Dy dIsSoivlDg glycerine in strong nitric and
N hAwN -
nItTo-glycerine in water. The principal
use OF the sulphuric acid is to take up water.
Tor which 1t has very strong affinity. Sui
phur does not enter into the moleeule of
nitro-g lycerine.
Alfred Nobel, "a Swede, began to experiment
with nltro-glycerine as an explosive in 1868,
but had no success until General Pietot ap-
piled the method Of detonatons to procure
explosions. But it was still very danger
Gus compound, as many frightfui accidents
testified, and in 1869 the British Parliament
prohibited its use. Nobel then turned his
attention to the procuring of some vehicle
which would lessen the danger aud leave
the explosive nearly as strong as IN the
pure state. A silceous diat0maeeous earth,
termed kieselguhr by the Germans, was
nnaily found To yield good and safe results.
This organic meal, great beds of which are
found in Aberdeenshire and Germany and
Norway, consists OF little joints or cells of
almost pure silicon, the percentage being 9S
In properly selected qualities. and all the or
ganic parts are removed by exclamation.
The ealcination enables the earth to alb
sorb up to 20 per cent of nitro-glycerine
without exuding. Dynamite of the first
quailty therefore consists of one part of
inert matter TO three parts of nitro-glycerine.
In this condition the explosive is changed to
a remarkable extent
Heavy weights may be let fall upon car
tridges without explosion; and the car
tridges may be ignited by flame. and will
burn slowly. A rifle bullet will explode