Papers relating to the Fusion of Carbou. 12h 
"The following experiments were suggested by those 
vf Dr. Hare. 1 melted some chlorate of potash in a silver 
spoon, to drive off the water of crystallization, taking care 
not to expel its oxygen gas by raising the heat too high. 
Seven grains of this melted chlorate of potash were mixed 
with one grain of the melted matter from charcoal, and the two 
were triturated together in a mortar; the powder was then 
put into a glass tube, bent into the form of a retort well luted 
about the sealed end, where it was about £ an inch in di- 
ameter. The luted end was then heated in a small French 
earthen furnace, connected with a small Pneumatic cistern. 
The tube was scarcely red hot when the gas came over with 
very great rapidity, and so much sooner than was expected, 
thata considerable quantity, probably two-thirds, was lost; 
that which was caught was received in flasks filled with lime- 
water, which it precipitated instantly and very abundantly, 
not only when agitated with the lime-water, but each bubble. 
as it passed indicated its course by a distinct trace of white 
flocculi of precipitated carbonate of lime; the heat being 
raised, gas continued to come, although much more sparing- 
ly, but every bubble to the very last, continued abundantly 
to precipitate the lime-water, and the precipitate, when the 
vessels were set aside, formed a dense stratum as it settled 
to the bottom of the flask. My object being merely to ascer. 
tain in general whether carbon existed in the fused matter, 
I did not take the precautions requisite to decide on the pro- 
portion, and can therefore state only this fact that the pre- 
cipitate of carbonate of lime collected and dried, weighed 
two grains implying one fourth of a grain of carbon, and if 
we allow for the gas which was lost there can be little doubt 
that the greater part of the melted matter was carbon. The 
only objection which can be made to this conclusion is that 
the carbonic acid might have been derived from charcoal 
adhering to the melted masses. But most of them, when 
examined by a good magnifier, appeared entirely destitute of 
any such appendage ; and if any adhered, the quantity was 
evidently so small that it could not have seriously affected 
the result. The residuary salt in the bent tube still contained 
portions of the melted matter dispersed about in the mass; 
they were not affected by the magnet, and my engagements 
have not allowed me to examine them any further. What- 
ever impurities exist in charcoal are probably to be found in 
therm also. but whether they contain more carbon I cannot 
