The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-29
WHAT CHEMISTRY CAN DO.
sOJIDIFIEs AND LIoUEFTEs
AIR AND GAS.


sen Gss-The Marvei- OF Chemistry u
the Workshops OF Davy. FsradaJ. an
Dr. Thomas Young Described-An later
view with James Dewnr Described.
tcbpy-tsa 1898 BY s. s u,C7ws. Lima,dl
The science OF chemistry. like that OF eeoR
raphy. has its undiscovered North Pole. -Four
hundred and sixty-one degrees below the
freezing point OF the Fahrenheit thormometei
t-274' c. lies amy storious specially indicated
degree OF cold which science has long been
gazing toward and striving to attain. wonder
ing meanwhile what may be the conditions OF
matter at this un lex piored point. Its existence
has long been indicated and its position cstab-
lished In two different ways, viz. the regularly
diminishing volumes OF gases and the steady
falling of In the resistance made by pure met
ais to the passage through them OF electricity
under increasing degrees OF cold. This point.
to which both these processes tend as an ultt-
mate. Is called the zero OF absolute tempera-
ture. BY more than one eminent observer it is
supposed to be the temperature OF inters tellar
space. the normal tenn perature OF the universe.
Whether or not this superstition be correct. the
efforts which have been made and are still in
progress to reach this degree OF cold have been
many. diverse. and ingenious. the equipment
OF the explorer being not boats. condensed
foods, and the general machinery Of ice plor-
alton. but all the varied resources OF mechan-
les and OF chemistry which can be combined
70 compass the EXTREMIST degrees Of cold.
All the world has heard o! Prot James Dewar,
and Of his late great triumphs in the liauefac-
tion OF oxygen gas and the solidilcaton OF
nitrogen and air. The sensation caused by his
extraordinary results won him at once the
congratulations OF many scientific men. the
profuse encomiums OF the press. and the flat
tering recognition Of appreciative royal per-
sonagea This was largely due to the fact
that In the search for this unknown and mys-
terlous point hei had plunged much deeper
than any chemist before him into the regions Of
low temperature. and had arrived within sixty
degrees centigrade OF the point ITSELF This
exciting and not uneventful journey downward
did not take him beyond the confines OF his own
laboratory, but his description OF it, as well
a. OF the properties OF matter under extreme
cold. has something Of the fascination. to the
mind possessed OF ordinary chemical curios-
ity. OF the story OF q Stanley. a Nansen. or o
Peary. describing the peculiarities Of coun-
tries in which they. Of all men. have been first
to set their feet.
Prot Dewar. who was born In Kincardine-
on-Forth iu 1912. was educated at the Univer-
city OF Edinburgh. where his natural and
special gifts as chemist were developed by
DR.. Lyon Playiair. at that time. professor OF
chemistry In the university. The perspicacity
and tenacity Of purpose which are character |
istic OF SO many Scotchmen were eminently
the Inheritance Of DR.. Playfairs assistant
and between that period and the present q |
long series of original investigations in all de-
partmente Of chemistry have won for Prof. |
Dewar at his primo the Jacksonian professor
ship OF natural experimental philosophy at |
Cambridge University. the Fullerian pro-
censorship OF chemistry at the Royal
Institution. the Fellowship OF the Royal
Society. the degree Of doctor OF laws. and
other dignities. which make great alpha
betical richness after his name upon scion
tihc occasions OF state. Personally he is OF
middle height and strong build with a clearly
cut face. full Of character. His speech, family
favored with the accent Of Scotia. is exact and
emphatic. and his manner. whether he Is con-
centrated upon scientific demonstration in
his laboratory or traversing the speculative
questions OF the hour In ordinary conversation
In his drawing room. has the earnestness
OF the profound scientist very agree
sby tempered by the polish OF the tray-
eier and cosm opolitan man OF the world, His
absorption In scientific pursuits has not denied
him very mark cd aesthetic development, and
his residential suit OF apartme nts ut the ROYAL
Institution is filed with treasures. rare tapes.
tries. bronzes. and carvings. pickle I'D at con.
tinental denots or purchased at the sale Of
great collections. which would make a highly
interesting article In themselves To her hus-
lands scientific sense OF the value OF age in
Wines Mrs. Dewar adds her original re- earches
In the matter OF choice teas. and It is averred
oy the eminent membership OF the Royal
Institution that the degree Of domes.
Tic civilization which prevails on the
third hoor OF the building Ia quito as
high and more potentially attractive than
the stage OF scientific civilization which
rules In the theatre. the libraries. and the
laboratories OF the floors below. Like most
scotchmen. however. Prof Dewar is simple in |
his tastes. and is more deeply stirred by
frozen gas or an antique bronze than an ythinR
In the way OF bisques or supremes. His heart
which shows no signs OF low temperature ia
mainly In his laboratory. and he leads the way
there. down Tight OF stone steps to the base
menf. with readiness that very clearly ex-
hibits his latent enthusiasm
moreover 1t Is laboratory eminently call
euiated to excite the enthusiasm Of anybody.
being. in fact the most famous laboratory
r. Sir Humphry Davy, Michael iaraday. . ana !
Dr. Thomas Young. to say nothing OF
which more s sreat dfs s% RI h msss
De l hstchsd than any other Of it's Kind
be experiments which gave us the undulatory '
,, gn q light Here Davy. covering. nearly
sea the whole sa
principles which science and applied science /
'inee DIS time have dsve oped to the marvel a
Gus degrees OF to-day, A little room leading | d
Q the right Of the main laboratory was the r
eene OF all OF Faraday's experiments in mag.
letism. and cellar on It's south side is known | I
Q this day as DAVIS Froggery" from the
act that payy kept in It hundreds Of t
'rof Dewar. whose sense OF the Inspiration i
y Dis surroundings 10 deep. dwells upon them O
sith interest and tells how. on one occasion, n c
,ssrrel OF live frogs. imported by Davy from &
rance, burst at the docks causing astonish- S
nent there and CONSIDERATION In the iabora. il
Org when Dayy learned Of his loss In this il
Aooratory that Faradsy first liquened chlor- t
ne gas. sending thereu pom that famous note q
DR.. Paris. the bioRrapher of Davy. in 1875 o
DAB sS; The oil you noticed yesterday turns out to
liquid chlorine Yours faithfully. "
MICHAEL FARApAr ii
All OF Faradsy's work In the liquefaction OF y
ases, the discovery OF new hydrocarbons the q
tndy ofthe changes OF steel tn 70 u oh the slight
aamlxture OF other metals. the Improvement a
optical glass. and the long list Of results d
men are to day represented in m lions OF tons h
PROD ucts from thousa nds OF factories were | n