The elements of experimental chemistry (Volume 1).

  • Henry, William, 1774-1836.
Date:
Nov. 1814
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The elements of experimental chemistry (Volume 1). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    For the purposes of evaporating liquids, and drying precipitates on a small scale, at a temperature not exceeding 212° Fahrenheit, a convenient apparatus is represented in plate 10th to the 6th vol. of Nicholson's Journal, 8vo. 3dly, The Reverberator]/ Furnace is represented by figs. 66, 67, 68. 4thly, The Furnace for Distilling by a Sand Heat, is constructed, by setting upon the top of the brick-work, fig. 60, the iron pot, fig. 71 ; a door being made in the side of the furnace for introducing fuel. Distillation by the naked fire is performed with the wind furnace, figs. 62, 63. 5thly, The Cupelling, or Enamelling Furnace, is shown by figs. 69,70. Portable furnaces, however, are amply sufficient for all the purposes of the chemical student, at the outset of his pursuit. The one which I prefer, is that shown by figs. 58 and 59. It was originally contrived, I believe, by Mr. Schmeisser ;* and is made, with considerable improvements, and sold by Mr. Knight. Its size is so small, that it may be set on a table, and the smoke may be conveyed by an iron pipe, into the chimney of the apartment. In the furnace, as it is usually sold, the chimney, adapted for dis- tillation with a sand heat, passes directly through the sand-bath, the form of which is necessarily altered, from the common to a very inconvenient one. I have found it a great improvement to make the aperture for the chimney at k. This allows us to have a sand-bath of the usual shape, as shown by fig. 59 ; or even to place evaporating dishes, or a small boiler, on the top of the fur- nace. The aperture may be closed by a stopper, when we dis- pose the furnace as shown by fig. 58. Dr. Black's furnace is gen- erally made of a large size ; and is adapted to operations on a more considerable scale. (See figs. 72 and 73). Both these furnaces are constructed of thin iron plates, and are lined with fire clay. They will be minutely described in the references to the plates. For the purpose of exciting a sudden heat, and of raising it to great intensity, nothing can be better adapted than a very simple, cheap, and ingenious furnace, contrived by Mr. Charles Aikin, fig. 55. It is formed out of pieces of black-lead melting pots, in a manner to be afterwards described ; and is supplied with air by a pair of double bellows, d. By a slight alteration, this furnace may occasionally be employed for the operation of cupelling. (See fig. 57.) * See his Mineralogy, Tab. iii. and iy.