92 SCIENTIFIC AMUSEMENTS. 



the quicksilver, which is absolutely insoluble in water, ether, and 

 mixtures of them ; the middle one, water containing a little ether 

 in solution ; and the uppermost ether containing a little dissolved 

 water. 



Expt. 84. To illustrate different Degrees of Solubility of 

 Liquids in one another. Place a teaspoonful of distilled water in 

 each of three test-tubes, and then pour into one about as much olive 

 oil, into a second a little chloroform, and into the third as much 

 alcohol (methylated spirit will do). Close each tube tightly with 

 the thumb or with a cork, and shake up vigorously, and then 

 allow each tube to stand for a few minutes. The oil and water 

 in the first tube will entirely separate from one another ; if you 

 prepare a paper filter (Exp. 56), and wet it thoroughly with water, 

 and then pour on to it the mixture of oil and water, the water only 

 will pass through, whilst the oil will remain, being incapable of 

 running through the pores of the paper whilst these are filled 

 with water. In the second tube the chloroform and water will 

 also apparently separate from one another, the water, being lighter, 

 rising to the top, and the heavier chloroform sinking to the bottom. 

 The separation here is not complete, for the water that rises to 

 the top contains dissolved a small quantity of chloroform, as may 

 easily be perceived by tasting it ; similarly the heavy chloroform 

 at the bottom dissolves a minute quantity of water, although this 

 can only be distinguished by certain chemical tests. In the 

 third tube no separation at all takes place, because the alcohol 

 and water can dissolve one another much more freely than chloro- 

 form can dissolve water, or water chloroform, ^"ow add to the 

 mixture of alcohol and water a teaspoonful of solid potassium 

 carbonate, or "pearlash," and shake up again; after 

 standing awhile the liquid will separate into two layers, 

 whilst the solid pearlash will have disappeared; the 

 lower layer is the water which has dissolved the pearl- 

 ash, forming a solution of potassium carbonate ; the 

 upper layer is the alcohol which will not dissolve in 

 or mix with solutions of potassium carbonate, although 

 it will mix readily with water alone (compare Expt. 

 39). The two liquids may be conveniently obtained 

 separate by means of a funnel provided with a tap (fig. 

 47) ; the mixed fluid is poured into the funnel, and 

 TaV&'uniiel. a ^ er separation is complete first one is run off and 



then the other. 



Expt. 85. To throw one Liquid out of Solution in another by 

 adding a third. We have seen, in Expt. 64, that when a solid is 

 dissolved in a solvent (like camphor in alcohol), a portion of the 



