26 CHEMICAL DISCOVERY AND INVENTION 



So much for the special accommodation provided for the 

 student individually. But everyone has access also to the 

 further arrangements for common use. 



In so large a laboratory it is necessary to consider the distance 

 to be traversed in reaching the balances and larger fume chambers. 

 In order to reduce this as much as possible these are distributed 

 along the two sides so that no student requires to walk further 

 than half the width of the laboratory for such purposes. Spacious 

 fume chambers and doors, leading directly into the two long 

 balance rooms, are to be found alternately the whole length of 

 the room. The fume chambers are glazed on all sides except 

 the back wall against which they are placed. Each is fitted 

 internally with gas and steam pipes, having cocks at suitable 

 intervals, so that all sorts of operations in which fumes are 

 evolved, or evaporation is required, can be conducted. Water 

 taps are also to be found in them, so that condensers used in 

 distillation can be kept cool, and at the back of each chamber 

 is a shallow groove or trough cut in the slate floor of the 

 chamber so as to carry off the water to the drain. 



In each balance room, which is 10 feet wide, on a somewhat 

 narrow slab, supported independently of the floor to avoid 

 vibration, is an array of some twenty-five balances. Each 

 balance therefore serves not more and generally less than three 

 students. A chemical balance will be described later on. 



In the laboratory itself are also provided two apparatus for 

 the condensation of steam and production of distilled water, 

 which is another indispensable material necessary in all analytical 

 work and in a great many other chemical operations. 



In connection with the distilled water apparatus are several 

 copper ovens, heated by the entering steam, which serve to dry 

 any materials placed within. 



There are two small rooms connected with the main laboratory 

 in which processes of electrolysis can be carried on, and in which 

 certain delicate operations can be conducted in a comparatively 

 pure atmosphere, free from contamination by dust or gaseous 

 impurities. 



The laboratory is lighted by electricity, one lamp being placed 

 over each working place, while clusters of five are hung from 

 the ceiling for the purpose of general illumination. 



The average floor space for each worker is nearly 50 square 

 feet. It may be added that the floor is covered with wood 



