The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-02-24
PUZZLES AND QUERIES.
Some Problems Which are Really
Worth While Working Out.
Answers. Second Series.)

Correct answers TO questions II to 20 have
been received from Comrade Asa W. Stay
| ton Gland Rapids, NJ CHI. Answers to 10,
ID, 10, and 20, all correct, have been re-
ceived from Harry T. Matthews, kinSman.
| o. Answers to four questions have been
received from +. NJ. g. Hinkle, Clifton, W.
| Va. The answer to - is correct that to IA
~ in error in placing copper as best con-
| ductor; that to 10 in saying sound travels
| tn rough air faster than through water; that
| to ~ in describing trich ma as insects.
H. Luminous paint is a solut on of phos-
| phoruS in ether or some OF the o Is 1t
| emlts light, but is not lasting.-Asa W.
| SlaytOn A stick Of phosphorus kept in
water in corked bottle also will emit light
| for some little time after remov ny and re-
placing the cork. This is due to oxidation
by the air EN- ted. The solutions OF phoS-
phorus spoken of by Comrade SIayton lear
| bon bisulphide is TIE best solvent form the
modern initial ons OF the celebrated q" Greek
fire, and are extremely dangerous. Thrown
on surface exposed TO air, after the evapo-
ra ion OF the solvent the phosphorus is
left in a 6nely-divided state, and soon
catches fire. But luminous paint" as
met with in the markets, is sulI hiGe of cal
clum, barium, or strontium. Exposed to
light, itsuffers some change, not und ers TODD,
whereby when placed in the dark it W II
emit feeble light FOX some time.-Editor.
II. To produce phOsp horuS, burn bones
w
one-half pounds strong sulphuric &C and
90 pounds OF water; str wei. let stand -
hours, and strain. Evaporate the clear
hIuld to sirup. add one fifth it's weight Of
charcoal powder. and heat almost red.
Pace the dri mass IN earthen retOrtS
with long necks, ending under receivers in
water, and heat slowly to br ght red. The
phosphorus distllS over and condenSes in
the receiver. About eight pounds of crude
phosphorus will be obtained To purify,
melt under water, stir well w tn mixture
or potassium dichrOmafe, and Suphuric
acid. The impurities oxidjze, leaving pure
liquid phosphorus. This is run into bowls
standing in warm water having tubes from
bottom ending in a stopcock in tub of cold
water. into tin tube the size OF the de-
sired stick, with one end plugged, is run
the melted phosphorus. 1t viii soon sol
idify, shrinking so as to drop from tube.
1t must always be kept, handled. or cut
under water.
10. The polar diameter of the earth is
1888 miles.-A. w. Slayton and II. T.
Matthews. 1874 miles.-F. NJ. G. Hinkle.
IA. The order in which the metals range
with regard to electrical conductivity is:
Silver best, then copper, zinc, pla tinum,
iron, German S liver; the conductiYity rising
with fall of tempera ture.-A- W. Slayton.
Is. The speed of travel Of sound in air,
by latest experiments, is 1850 feet; in
water, a ,7O8.-A. W. SlaytOn.
16 The raw materials used in glass max
ing are fine white sand powdered flint or
quartz cryStalSj; soda; lime and oxides of
lead and other metals, according to color
and quality desired. "A ". Slayton.
II. The round, even disk of the sun as
the unaided eye sees it; incandescent, solid
or gaseous we know not.-A w. Slayton
IL. The reasons copper and brass are rot
used for gas pipe are that it is expensive,
ard the copper would unite with acetic
acid in the air and gas.-Asa. w. Slayton.
In addition, it is noted that one of the con-
stitUe IS of all gas, acetylene, when in
contact with copper forms a body g. copper
acetylide 1t is sonnet mes called which
explOdes on being struck. A fatal acct
dent from this cause happened in Paris
early in the h story of gas lighting. Editor.
10. Trichina are minute slender worms
coiling in spirals, found in lean meat
of hogs and easily developed in the vol
untary muscles Of man if the ham he
eats be not well cOoked.-A. ". Slayton.
Swine derive them from eating rats. On
eating trichinous meat, the trichina which
are in the pork IN quiescent encySted -
state, have the cyst d ssOlved off by the
pastric Juice and at once multiply in the
+ mach. The young trichina at once bore
tieir way through the walls of the stomach
into the muscles, where they become
encysted in their turn and TRANQUILITY wait
for somebody to cat the man.-Editor.
20. Sodium is the metallic base of soda
1t Is lighter than water. Common salt is
chlOrid of sodium.-Mr. Matthews, Kins-
man, o. Its strong affinity for oxygen
keeps 1T from ever being found uncnm-
bined. 1t can only be preserved by keep
ing in naphtha or some liquid containing
no oxygen. 1t burns when dropped on
warn water. Twenty three parts by weight
of the metal unite with 35.5 PARTS Of deadly
CHI, orin and form innocent salt.-ASa w.
Slayton.
Answers to 81 to 80 have been received
from Mr.. Asa W. Slayton, Grand Rapids, |
Mich.
Questions. Second Series.)
81. Is there any known substance that |
will cheaply di solve vulcanized rubber, |
like shoes, wringer rollers, etc.?-H. w. |
Belden, Milwaukee, Wis.
81. OF what are the SO-called pebble |
glasses made, and why are they better |
than g'ass Reader.
So. What are the mutual relationships of |
corundum, emery and ruby?
81. When. sos rods from a light tower
49, feet tall, with four arc lights on it, |
noticed that my shadow cast by the cleo
T lights was Of equal density with the |
one beside it cast by the full moon. How
many arc lights would it take there the
moon is to light the town as well as the |
moon does Reader.
So. What is a weber Reader.
So. What would be the principal ph ysical
if the revolution OF the earth
Oh its axis were to stop?-Reader
81. What is the present system of defin-
ing the sizes of type?
S. What are the three principal fcrtilZ-
ing bodies?
&C