The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-08-03
Properties and uses
Of liquid air.

IIOl. La houuSou VI CQc y OQuS HOP
kins University contributes to Apple
toms Popular Science Monthly for May
an important paper on liquid air, the
new agent now successfully produced
in this country by Mr.. Charles E. Trip
Ter. (The article in McClure's Magazine
for March describing Mr.. Tripler's
work was noticed in the Review at the
time of it's appearance.)
Professor Remsen describes several
experiments with the new substance
which must have astonished an un-
initiated observer. For instance:
"When liquid air is poured upon
water, it, being little lighter than the
water, floats, not quietly, to be sure,
but in very troubled way. Soon, how
ever, the liquid sinks to the bottom be-
cause the nitrogen, which is the lighter
constituent, passes into the gaseous
state, and the liquid oxygen, which is
left, is little heavier than water. The
experiment is a very beautiful one.
A scientific poet Gould alone do justice
to it. The beauty is enhanced by the
fact that while liquid air is colorless, or
practically so, liquid oxygen is distinct
ly blue.
"When the liquid is poured out of a
vessel in the air, it is rapidly converted
into gas. The great lowering in the
temperature causes condensation of
the moisture of the air in the form of a
cloud. The same thing is seen when
the cover is removed from can con-
tanning the liquid. Of course this
liquid does not wet things as water
does. When, however, as happened in
New York, the lecturer deliberately
pours dipperful of the liquid upon
priceless Worth gown, he may expect
to hear expressions of horror from the
owner. This experiment passed off
most successfully. Every trace of the
liquid air was converted into invisible
gases before the fleeting agony of the
sympathetic audience had passed
away"
Alcohol frozen by liquid air is as
hard as ice. When dropped into liquid
air the drops of alcohol retain the glob-
ular form.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS.
Professor Remsen mentions four
distinct uses to which liquid air may be
put-as a cooling agent, for the con-
struction of motors, in the preparation
OF an explosive, and for the purpose of
getting oxygen from the air. The
second of these applications is the one to
which attention was especially directed
IN the McClure's article, wherein it was
stated that ten gallons of liquid air had
been made by the use of three gallons
OF liquid air in the engine. Comment
ing on this statement, Professor Rem
sen observes:
"1f that means that the ten gallons
of liquid air are made from air at the
ordinary pressure, the statement is in
direct conflict with well-established
principles. If it means that the ten
gallons eff liquid air are made from air
that has already been partly COM
pressed, we must know how much work
has been done before the liquid air
engine began"
Leaving the question of cost out of
consideration, Professor Remsen con.
cedes that liquid air engines would
have the advantage of compactness,
though they would necessarily be
heavy, as they would have to be strong
enough to stand great pressure.
1t seems that an explosive in which
liquid air is one of the constituents has
been made and used for some time.