GASOLINE IS TREACHEROUS 211 



selves. On this account celluloid burns quickly and 

 cannot be extinguished by smothering. Hot air from a 

 register will sometimes ignite celluloid. Make a list of 

 celluloid articles in your home. 



Spontaneous combustion is a frequent cause of disastrous 

 fires. Certain oils, as linseed oil used by painters, absorb 

 oxygen in drying. By this process heat is generated. 

 If the oil is on poor heat conducting materials, as rags and 

 cotton waste, the heat may increase enough to reach the 

 kindling point of the materials and fire results. This 

 usually happens when nobody is around and so the fire 

 makes good headway before it is discovered. 



Experiment. To show how spontaneous combustion takes place. 

 Materials : Carbon disulphide. Phosphorus. Test tubes. Filter paper. 

 Ring stand. 



Method : Dissolve a piece of phosphorus the size of a pea in half a test 

 tube of carbon disulphide. 



( Note : Do not handle phosphorus with bare fingers. Phosphorus and 

 carbon disulphide are both inflammable.) Wet the filter paper with 

 this solution by rolling it up and inserting it into the test tube. Open 

 the paper and expose it to the air on a ring stand. As the carbon 

 disulphide evaporates the phosphorus oxidizes and generates heat. 



Observation and Conclusion : What happens ? Was heat generated faster 

 than it could be carried off? Explain just how the fire occurred. 



Burning fat or oils used for frying on the stove are not 

 serious dangers as they can be smothered easily with a 

 cover or a heavy rug. Trying to carry the burning fat 

 to the sink is dangerous. A few drops spilled may set fire 

 to other things. The addition of water will scatter the 

 burning drops and spread the fire. 



Gasoline is treacherous. It is a safe rule never to clean 

 with gasoline indoors, and never keep gasoline in a glass 

 bottle. There are other liquids easily obtainable which 



