On the Affinities of different Earths for Carton. 275 



lent ether, may be collected in a very short time. The 

 ether has a weak orange colour, with a very agreeable smell: 

 it docs not change blue vegetable colour to red ; and exhi- 

 bits in general all the phenomena of the best nitrous ether. 

 During the formation of the ether there is disengaged 

 some nitrous gas, which may be known by a red vapour 

 diffused throughout the apparatus. When this vapour ap- 

 pears, the receiver must be changed. The sugar which re- 

 mains in the retort may be easily converted into oxalic acid 

 by treating it with a fresh quantity of nitrous ccid. 



XLVII. Experiments to ascertain whether there exists any 

 Affinity betwixt Carbon and Clay, Lime and Silex, se- 

 parately or as Compounds united with the Oxide of Iron 

 forming Iron Ores and Iron Stones. By David Mushet, 

 Esq. of the Colder Iron-Works. 



[Continued from p. 141.] 



JLXaving thus ascertained certain peculiar affinities betwixt 

 carbon and clay and silex, manifested by the disappearance 

 of the former, when exposed to melting heats in contact 

 with the latter, I now proceeded ta investigate what effects 

 would be produced in the revivification of iron from ores 

 compounded with various proportions of mixture. 



I combined malleable iron with oxygen, and thus formed 

 3. considerable portion of rich oxide. This was pounded,; 

 and afterwards mixed with various earths and proportions- 

 pf carbon. Thus prepared, it was found to contain, 



Iron 74 



Oxygen - 24 



Moisture ' - 2 



100 parts 



The following experiments were made with this oxide 

 and carbon, to ascertain the proportions of carbon neces- 

 sary to revive a given quantity of iron. 



I. 200 grains of oxide were fused per se. A very dense 

 glass of iron was obtained with a partially crystallized frac- 

 ture. The. surface contained some beautiful crystallizations 

 of detached radii possessed of various shades of colour ; but 

 no appearance of revived iron. 



II. 200 grains of oxide, - 



5 af carbon, or l-40th. 



The 



