The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-18

cured"
point where it is on the balance, as in The
above example, where lowering of tenn
perature makes it liquid, and rise OF
temperature makes it gaseous. That point
is a temperature of-191 degrees cent?
grade, or, by the Fahrenheit scale, 800
degrees below zero. At this point air Ii
quefies and remains a liquid at paro-
metric pressure the same as water. If
raised above that temperature, as by
standing open to the atmosphere, it evapo-
rates, the evaporation tending to keep it
cool, so that a tumblerful of the liquid
would all evaporate in about half an hour.
The inquiring man will at once ask how
such phenomenally low temperatures are
reached In this consists the invention.
The principle is not particularly new. IL
has for some years been known that air
could be liquefied, and Prof. Dewar CT
Glasgow succeeded in liquefying it, but at
a cost, as he said, of about 81, 500 quart.
He produced his low temperature by a
series of evaporations. Mr.. Trlpler's plan
Is different He condenses air by a pres
sure of 1900 pounds to the square inch
by ordinary means Then he sends it
through a copper worm and through an
opening the size Of a fine needle. 1t eX-
pands as it issues from the orifice and
oools considerably. This cooled air springs
up by another coil which it cools down to
lower temperature, and it's escaping air
passes by a third coil which coois its air
down to below-d91 cenugrade; therefore
the air runs out of this third coil in
LIQUID stream as large as the finger with
out any pressure at all, and that without
any other source of cold but the expan-
sion of the air itself
In table exhibited by Prof. Barker it
was shown that nitrogen lique1es at-l93
degrees C. and oxygen at-lS0 degrees c. 1t
is evident, therefore, that, as the liquid
becomes warmer, the nitrogen win first
pass off into the gaseous state leaving a
greater proportion of oxygen behind TO
evaporate at still higher temperature.
1t thus follows that in time the liquid
becomes principally oxygen, and this Is
shown by it's blush color, which 1T as
sunns after standing open awhile.
The above description of the principles
and the process gives but an outline of
the subject. The experiments with which
they were illustrated will throw addi-
tlonaI light on this new form of air, and
a very few of those shown are briefly
stated
The liquid, when first poured into a
tumbler. would boil until the glass had
cooled down. This was because any rise
of tempera ture above-191 would, as before
described, raise the liquid above its boil
irg point. Therefore any substance what
ever dipped into the liquid made it boil
Its vapor, coming in contact with the air,
cooled the moisture in the air, which fell
down in a cloud of boar frost.
An egg was placed in a tumbler of the
LIQUID. and as it contained much heat in
comparison with the liquid, the latter boil
ed furiotsly, and as it became vaporized
more liquid was poured in, until the egg
was cooked" with this intense cold. When
taken out and struck with a hammer it
few into the finest fragments.
A piece OF tin thrust into the liquid made
it boil. and, when taken out, broke into
small fragments as readily as glass. A
flexible rubber tube also became brittle.
Copper was not at all affected, neither
was platinum This indicates what metals
are suitable for handling the new pro-
duct
The liquid was placed in teapot end
boiled over an electric furnace. The heat
made the evaporation so rapid that the
boar frost, resembling steam, made a
great display Water was poured into The
kettle while il was boiling over the fur
mace, and was at once converted into ice,
which it was difficult 70 remove from the
pot.
Alcohol was frozen into solid chunk by
pouring a quantity into the liquid, which
was boiling the while. Mercury was fro
zen solid by pouring some Of the LIQUID
on II, and was then used to drive a nail
into a hard board.
Some of the liquid was sprinkled on the
Clothing of the guests, and one ladys APP
parel looked as if she had spilled a pint
Of milk on 1t; but it soon resumed it's natu-
raj color, as the liquid, which he'd become
frost resumed its place in the atmos-
phere.
"A taper, extinguished but having a
spark on its end, broke into brilliant
flame when placed over the liquid, show
ing the presence of the evaporating oxy-
gen at the surface. Cotton saturated with
the fluid exploded and burned for a Jew
seconds brilliantly when a torch was ap-
piled. much as gun cotton would have
done.
A very interest sting but unexplained cx-
pertinent was made by dipping a piece of
ivory in the fluid, which lowered its tenn
perature. then exposing It to the glare Of
an electric arc light and Immediately ex-
hibiting II In the darkened room. The re-
siilc wasa brilliant Dhosphoresence for a
brief period. A possible explanation Is
Jhat certain vibrations were set up in the
molecules by the rapid change In temper
allure. A strip of paper gave the same
results, although IN less degree.
Altogether the exhibition kept the au-
dieuce in state OF breathless wonder
not only at what they saw. but at The
Z possibilities which may soon become re-
alties in the economic use Of this new
form Of air.