Salt Water 



exist. And when, through the action of heat 

 or electricity, the water is broken up and the 

 gases reappear, then the water no longer exists. 

 But at least we may say that it is the result of 

 the uniting of those two gases, and that it can 

 be made in no other way. 



An interesting experiment has been tried. A 

 certain amount of hydrogen gas and eight times 

 as much of oxygen gas were weighed separately, 

 by means of very delicate instruments. Then 

 through great heat the two were caused to unite 

 into water, and the water also was weighed. 

 It was found to be just as heavy as the two gases 

 together had been ; and quite naturally so, since 

 neither of the two gases had lost or gained 

 in weight. This kind of union is called 

 "chemical." 



French people are fond of " eau sucre*." A 

 lump of sugar is dropped into a glass of water, 

 and it disappears. But it has not been de- 

 stroyed. It has not ceased to be sugar. No 

 mysterious union has taken place between the 

 sugar and the water. Neither water nor sugar 

 has changed its nature ; and no fresh substance 

 has come into existence in their stead. The 

 water is there, as it was before. The sugar 

 is there too, not visible, but to be found out by 



15 



