Таємничий острів

           Theengineerhadnoneoftheseathisdisposal,butheknewthat,inBohemiaespecially,sulphuricacidismanufacturedbyverysimplemeans,whichhavealsotheadvantageofproducingittoasuperiordegreeofconcentration.ItisthusthattheacidknownunderthenameofNordhausenacidismade.

           Toobtainsulphuricacid,CyrusHardinghadonlyoneoperationtomake,tocalcinethesulphateofironcrystalsinaclosedvase,sothatthesulphuricacidshoulddistilinvapor,whichvapor,bycondensation,wouldproducetheacid.

           Thecrystalswereplacedinpots,andtheheatfromthefurnacewoulddistilthesulphuricacid.Theoperationwassuccessfullycompleted,andonthe20thofMay,twelvedaysaftercommencingit,theengineerwasthepossessoroftheagentwhichlaterhehopedtouseinsomanydifferentways.

           Now,whydidhewishforthisagent?Simplytoproduceazoticacid;andthatwaseasy,sincesaltpeter,attackedbysulphuricacid,givesazotic,ornitric,acidbydistillation.

           But,afterall,howwashegoingtoemploythisazoticacid?Hiscompanionswerestillignorantofthis,forhehadnotinformedthemoftheresultatwhichheaimed.

           However,theengineerhadnearlyaccomplishedhispurpose,andbyalastoperationhewouldprocurethesubstancewhichhadgivensomuchtrouble.

           Takingsomeazoticacid,hemixeditwithglycerine,whichhadbeenpreviouslyconcentratedbyevaporation,subjectedtothewater-bath,andheobtained,withoutevenemployingarefrigerantmixture,severalpintsofanoilyyellowmixture.