Fusion of CharcoaL 361 



Art. XXn. — Fusion and Volatilization of Charcoal, by 

 the Editor, with remarks on these experiments and on 

 the Galvanic Instruments of Dr. Hare, by Professor J OHr:i 

 Griscom, of JVew-YorTc. 



On page 108, of the present volume of this Journal, is 

 mentioned the fusion of charcoal by Professor Hare's Defla- 

 grator. The experiments have been since frequently re- 

 peated, with resuhs uniformly the same. A stronger acid 

 has been employed in some of the experiments, and the 

 effects were more rapid and brilliant. The elongation of 

 the charcoal point of the zinc pole was more sudden and 

 extended to a greater length than before. It accumulated 

 in an instant, to the length of a quarter of an inch, and 

 nothing seemed to hinder its acquiring double that length, 

 except the difficulty of holding the points so accurately, as 

 to prevent their striking against one another, and thus de- 

 taching the projecting mass of melted charcoal. During 

 the fusion, if the points touch, they adhere. On the cop- 

 per pole the formation of the crater shaped cavity was 

 ^qt^ally sudden and rapid. It was also deeper and larger 

 man in the former trials. 



Whenever the point of the zinc pole was moved to a new 

 place, the cavity instantly appeared there, and thus the 

 number of cavities was increased at pleasure. 



With a Deflagrator of considerable size, and in good or- 

 aer, these experiments are, in fact, extremely easy, and 

 With charcoal well prepared, will never fail in a single in- 

 stance.* All the resuhs obtained in the former trials were 

 not only confirmed, but were in every respect more stri- 

 king and pleasing. The surface of the fused charcoal was 

 brilliant, with a metallic and frequently irridescent lustre, 

 and the whole appearance was so changed, as tojustiJy the 

 assertions in the former communication, that the melted sub- 

 stance would never have been suspected, from its appear- 

 ance, to have had any connection with charcoal. Upon the 

 charcoal on the copper side, there was no appearance of 

 ftision; the crater-shaped cavity was extremely well defi- 

 ned and brilliant, with the proper fibrous and porous ap- 



Prepared charcoal may be boiled afterwarda in water, and will still 

 conauct between the polea and melt as above. 



J 



