Page:Various Forces of Matter.djvu/87

I will now fill this large bell-jar (f) with water; and I propose letting the gas ascend into it, and I will then show you that we can reproduce the water back again from the vapour or air that is there. Here is a strong glass vessel (g), and into it we will let the gas (from f) pass. We will there fire it by the electric spark, and then after the explosion you will find that we have got the water back again; it will not be much, however, for you will recollect that I showed you how small a portion of water produced a very large volume of vapour. Mr. Anderson will now pump all the air out of this vessel (g), and when I have screwed it on to the top of our jar of gas (f), you will see upon opening the stopcocks (h′ h h) the water will jump up, showing that some of the gas has passed into the glass vessel. I will now shut these stopcocks, and we shall be able to send the electric spark through the gas by means of the wires (i, k) in the upper part of the vessel, and you will see it burn with a most intense flash. [Mr. Anderson here brought a Leyden jar, which he discharged through the confined gas by means of the wires i, k.] You saw the flash, and now that you may see that