PROPERTIES OF GASOLINE 31 



is very finely divided, because the heat applied to the oil passes 

 on into the coal and it becomes necessary to raise the tempera- 

 ture of the whole chunk of coal to the burning point of kero- 

 sene. The match does not furnish a sufficient amount of heat 

 to do this. 



Danger of an explosion from the use of kerosene arises only 

 when the oil is heated above its flashing or burning point. 

 Evidently if the oil is poured upon unheated fuel and is then 

 ignited, the flame will consume the vaporized oil as rapidly as 

 it is vaporized. If, however, the oil is poured upon heated fuel 

 or live coals, or even upon fuel in a heated stove, there is then 

 danger that the oil will be vaporized in large quantities and 

 mixing with the air will produce an explosive mixture. If the 

 flame be then applied a violent explosion is certain to occur. 

 Therefore, kerosene should never be used as kindling if there are 

 live coals in the stove or if the stove is itself still hot. 



DANGER IN USING CHEAP KEROSENE AND GASOLINE 



35. Danger in Using Cheap Kerosene. Many experiments 

 with lamps of different shapes and materials show clearly the 

 danger which comes with the use of inferior qualities of kero- 

 sene. With the temperature of the room 73 or 74F. the 

 temperature of the oil in the lamp bowl has been found to vary 

 from 76 to 100F. With the temperature of the room 82 to 

 84F. the temperature of the oil is from 84 to 120F. With 

 the temperature of the room 90 to 92F. the temperature 

 of the oil in the lamps in some cases ran as high as 129F., 

 though these were exceptional. 



From these facts it is evident that the oil within the lamp is 

 likely to be heated to a temperature considerably above the 

 temperature of the room. It is also evident that no oil should 

 be used which does not have a flashing point considerably above 

 the highest temperature ever reached by the air of the room. Ex- 

 plosions occur because the oil has been heated to a temperature 

 above the flashing point. 



