CHAPTER IX. 

 CHEMICAL ACTION. 



RTKAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS. 



A knowledge of chemical action required. Nothing known about it by 

 scientific writers. Prof. Grove. Chemical action only one form of 

 atomagnetisra. Great separator. Attraction the great builder. 

 Repulsion the great designer. Chemical action the great destroyer. 

 How sugar dissolves in water. How a nail dissolves. Con- 

 centrated acid not so good a dissolver as diluted acid. Soda powder. 

 Sulphuric acid. Amusement lor speculative philosophers. How 

 water evaporates. No latent moisture in the atmosphere. No 

 latent dryness in the sea. STEAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS. Facts 

 connected with explosions. The materials dealt with. The manu- 

 facture of hydrogen gas. What the United States Commissioners 

 on explosions have discovered. How explosion takes place. Not by 

 pressure. Mingling of gases. Prevention. 



Before commencing to state what heat, light, sound and 

 colour, are, we propose to give a definite idea of chemical action, 

 for in this lies partly the root of our system ; and, if we can 

 convey our meaning in such a manner as to be understood, 

 we have no fear for the other subjects to be considered. 



It may be stated that, hitherto, no man has properly under- 

 stood what chemical action is, although he sees evidences of its 

 working every day, in food digesting in the stomach, in a nail 

 rusting in water, in a Hre burning, and in numberless other 

 ways. 



