Year: 1868

The Boston Journal of Chemistry, in an
article on the chemistry of kerosene, speaks
as follows. As an explanation of the causes
OF lamp explosions, it is worth studying, that
these accidents may be avoided


6 As has been stated, kerosene is not ex-
plosive A lighted taper may be thrust into
it, or flame applied in any way, and it does
not explode. On the contrary it extinguish.
es the flame, if experimental with the usual
temperatures of our room. Kerosene acci-
dents occur from two reasons: First, t,Iimper-
feet manufac ure of the article second adul-
terations. An imperfectly manufactured oil
is that which results when the distillation
had been carried at too low tcmperature. and
portion of the neptha remains in it. Adul-
terations are largely made by unprincipled
dealers, who add 20 to 80 per cent. of neptha
after it leaves the manufacturer hands,
The light napthas which has been spoken of,
and known in commerce under the names ot
benzene, gasoline, etc., are very volatile, in
f1ammable, and dangerous. They however,
in themselves, are not explosive neither are
they capable of furnishing gas, when placed
in lamps, which is explosive. Accidents OF
this nature are due entirely to the facility
with which vapor is produced from them at
low temperatures. But, the vapor by itself
Is not explosive to render it so, it must be
mixed with air A lamp may be filed with
bau kerosene, or with the vapor even, and in
no possible way can it detonate, or explode,
unless atmospheric air has somehow got mix
ed with yapof.


lamp therefore, full, or nearly full of the
liquid, is safe !; and also one full of pure va
por is safe. Explosions generally occur
when the lamp is first lighted, without being
filled and late in the evening; when the fluid
is nearly exhausted. The reason of this will
readily be seen. In using imperfect adultera-
ted kerosene, the space above the line of oil
is always filled with vapor and so long as
it is warm and rising freely no air can reach
it, and it is safe At bedtime when the
family retire the light is extinguished the
lamp cools, portion of the vapor is conden-
sed; this creates partial vacuum in the
space, which is instantly filled with air. The
mixture is now more or less ..ex plosive; and
when, upon the next evening, the lamp is
lighted without replenishing with oil, as is
often done, an explosion is liable to take
place. Late in the evening, when the oil is
nearly consumed, and the space above is fill.
ed with yapor, the lamp cannot explode so
long as 1T remains at rest upon the table,
But take 1t in hand, agitate it, carry it into
cool room, the vapOr is cooled, air passes
in, and the vapor becomes explosive A case
of explosion came to the writers knowledge
few years since, which was occasioned BY
taking the lamp from the table to answer the
ring of the door bell. The cool outside air
which impinged upon the lamp in the hands
of the lady, rapidly condensed the vapor, air
passed in, explosion occurred, which resulted
fatally. II the lamp had been full of fluid,
the accident would not have occurred. Before
carryiny it to the door, flame might have
been thrust into the lamp with safety; the
vapor would have ignited, bnt no explosion
would have taken place"