New-York tribune., 1896-01-25
Grea, Darlington. Mass. Jan. H. 1896.
Is ACETYLENE AN EXPLOSIVE?

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir. There was a terrible accident at New-Haven
on Monday last. costing three lives and damaging
much property. due to the bursting Of cylinder
,or,alnlug ilgud acctylcne This unfortunate accl-
dent together with certain rumors which are cur
rent that aceiy ylene is an explosive Is hkey 10 give
a black eye "A good thing and delay IT'S introduc-
don.
Twenty-Five 10 forty years ago. when Kerosene OIL
gas a comparatively new thing. unfortunate ex-
u8sllus aud accidents connected with rs use caused
the opinion = become most universal among the
unsc.entin, that kerosene was an explosive "l"n
IN fact the danger from It's use and the acciH'h'S
caused by Il were due to the evolution % gas from
II. which, taking fire. or from mixing with ar ana
exploding set fre 10 the oil. So popular was the
belief that kefosene was explosive that one Of the
most stupendous fakes ever lefpeiTated upon 'he
public became very successful throughout N'"-
England by taking advantage OF this belief ana was
worked upon the country people with great pro"''
Some ingenious fakir. learning that Kerosene was
rot explosive and. IN fact not easily lgnlt"d III
hcdy prof.ssed 10 have discovered red crystalline
compound that would prevent kerosene from eXploi-
Ing. which. in fact. was simply rock SaIt 'o'o'eu
with anlne. His method ana that of MS agents
was to call at house take some Oh from lamp ~.
oil can pour II into cup pace some oil MS coIoted
salt In the cup with me oi. ana "e', "
match and drop II into the on. Inc ihh'cn' %, %,
course was Instantly extingushed. As the Oh ga ga
not explode upon being brought IN contact with the
lighted match II was sufficient evidence 10 the tu'-
ohr. dani supply OF the coored sat was purchased
forthwith. ,, /. ,,,.,,, toto
except In exceedingly strong metallic cylinders rms
il equally true with many other snnstahi.s aS, ,T'
Numerous have been the accidents from experiments
had vith the last Two named substances from the
ips,,n IN" ~ thair rrtaners but fortunately they
have never been pronounced explosives Acstytene
ia in no sense an explosive any more than Is
carbonlc acid or ammonia When liquid acetylene
or liQuefed carbonic acid and ammonia are neiu ~
cylinders under ordinary atmSsphsfhc ppaiecnla
condition Of the liquid Is red not, ana & We ier 's m
cylinders heated to n red heat. one thousand units
OF heat evaporate one pound OF water, therefore II
erees II contains so much heat that. II II bursts s
retainer. all Of the liquid Is instantly eo'es'en G
explosion that we have with acetylene under ordl-
nary atmospheric temperatures ,,....,... ,.,.,..
about the danger OF acetylene used for purposes OF
illumination. When we consider that certain per,
centage Of all illuminating gases ~ ae".yiele @ ar i
always has been acetyene. anG when We consider
also that all Eases contain bnb very E yEGh
more explosive when combined win ar or oxygen
than Is ct we or Sn the purposes Of enrhng
gas is element Of danger A....,,o, t.
uauid form under any circumstances by unscientIfc
persons. and under no circumstance except IN very
only TO hold acetylene in liquid form under ordl-
nary atmospheric temperatures nut az also under Under
temperatures as high as are ever reached III SUM
There is another thing which It is wei to con,
slider in regard TO the Successful introduction and
use OF acetylene for Illuminating and other pur-
poses Acetylene will probably be made chiefly from
arblde of calcium Now, as the carbide will pro-
duce about one-hrd OF its weight OF acetylene and
as carbide OF calcium may be shipped and handled
with the utmost convenience and without any dan
ger whatever, calcium carbide. instead OF liquid
may be n m sed or bure a. an 10
no faster This obviates all the possibility Of danger
In the OF the liquid. HUDSON MANlM
New-York January 70. 1896.
On this letter Mr. Maxim has evidently kept in
view only pure acetylene. either In the gaseous
form or reduced under great pressure, TO liquid.
and he has apparently overlooked the explosive
qualities which weknown chemists impute to a
mixture Of this gas with common air In certain
proportions. Should these accusations prove
just. there would still occasion for exer-
csing a degree of caution not required with
ammonia and carbonic acd.-Ed)