Part 54 (2/2)
”I have here,” continued Uncle Richard, ”immersed in distilled water--”
”Rain-water, uncle”
”Well, boy, rain-water is distilled by Nature, and then condensed from the vapoury clouds to fall back upon the earth”
”Good,” said the Vicar ”I a”
”Next,” said Uncle Richard, ”I have here a bottle rains of pure potash, dissolved in soalkaline solution in fact”
More applause
”In this next bottle,” continued Uncle Richard, ” solution of ammonia”
”Another alkali?” said the Vicar
”Exactly,” said Uncle Richard ”In this bottle, ar-candy prepared with pure spirit Can I have the pleasure of offering you a glass, Vicar?”
”Oh no, thanks,” was the reply ”I will not spoil the experis”
”Will any otherround at Toht have labelled the bottles wrongly”
”Wise boy,” said the Vicar; ”but, by the here's the lulass?”
”Here it is,” said Uncle Richard, laying his hand upon the stopper of the fourth bottle, which held the same quantity of liquid as the others
”But that's clear water,” said Tom
”Yes, clear distilled water, but not alone It contains a great deal of silver”
”Whereabouts, lecturer?” said the Vicar
”In solution,” said Uncle Richard gravely ”Here we have one of the wonders of science laboriously worked out by experiment, and when discovered siht clear iron and leave it out exposed to all weathers, what happens?”
”Gets rusty,” said Tom
”Exactly; and what is rust?”
”Red,” said To so absurd an answer”
”Yes, uncle,” said Tom frankly ”I don't quite know”
”Oxide of iron,” said the Vicar