The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1911-06-15
THE COLDEST YET
Coldest Temperature Obtained by
Man-225 Degrees Below Zero is
the Very Bottom Thus Far.

the Very Bottom Thus Far.
Extremely hot temperatures have
heen within the reach OF mankind
for thousands of years; although it
is true, that only with the inven-
tion of the electric furnace has man
been able 10 achieve temperatures
ranging up to thousands of de-
grees and approXimating a state of
heat equivalent to that which ex-
listed on the earth when this planet
was q bah OF molten material
On the other extreme, science has
succeeded IN producing temperatur-
es far, far colder than any that
have ever existed OH this earth and
which will not exist in natural
condition until the earth becomes
like the moon-a planet dead and
stiff with the absolute zero temper
space between the stars and plan
cts
The lowest temperature ever OBJ
tanned by man is equivalent to 225
degrees on a centigrade thermome-
ter and comes by way of liquefied
hydrogen. This gas, which when
mixed with oxygen turns naturally
into water, the commonest OF all
liquids, IS yet by itself most diff
cult 70 obtain in Z liquid state. Still
the feat has been accomplished and
when II is permitted 10 suddenly re-
turn 70 the gaseous condition it
gives the coldest temperature known
TO science and probably the coldest
temperature that il is possible to
obtain, giving the condition that
exists IN the solar systtm.
While hquified hydrogen is so in
telesting from a STANDPOINT of pure
science, its production is far too
difficult and costly to admit OF its
use In practical operations. Yet
great cold IS needed in a number of
important manufacturing processes
and science has now supplied a
method that gives temperature
seventy-five degrees below zero and
at very reasonable cost
This is done by means of methyl-
chloride which is put into porous
clay utensils, much like an ordinary
red clay water filter The evapor-
alton or the methyl chloride rapid
ly sucks heat from any and every
where III its vicinity and reproduc-
es temperature seventy-five de-
grees below zero.
This is sufficient for all CONNER
clal purposes that have SO far ap-
peared. In the chemical labora-
tory ii lower temperature than this,
say about 100 degrees below zero,
is easily and cheaply obtained by A
mixture OF solid carbolic acid and
acetylene. For many experiments
extraordinary cold is demanded. and
the last mentioned mixture fills the
bill perfectly.
The production of wonderfully
cold temperatures on big scale is
produced in on building in Paris by
means or 20 horse power engine
tached TO a complicated bit of ma
chlnery. The apparatus can turn
out seven quarts of liquid air an
hour, and with liquid air tempera-
lures running around ITS degrees
below zero are easily obtained.
The liquid air boils, that is To
say. returns to its natural state AS
1t exists on the earth at a tempera--
thre OF about 175 degrees below
zero. When it is allowed to evap-
crate by the removal of the tremen-
dous pressure that has Iiquified it
1t spec dily pulls everything down tc
its boiling temperature.
When the average individual
says he is boiling" he refers to .
state OF extreme heat, but LIQUID all
boiis at l75 degrees below the freez
ing point of water-a temperature
that would free any human beina
into brittle piece of stone. ST
scientific man has learned to worl
with temperatures so high and 81
low that if they were his masters
instead OF being subject to the con
troll OF the human brain, the entir,
race of man would perish in the
twinEling of an eye