On that form of chemical hygrometer in which sulphuric acid has been used as the absorbent : the Johnson memorial prize essay for 1891 / by M.S. Pembrey.

  • Pembrey, M. S. (Marcus Seymour), 1868-1934.
Date:
[1891]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On that form of chemical hygrometer in which sulphuric acid has been used as the absorbent : the Johnson memorial prize essay for 1891 / by M.S. Pembrey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    which Sulphuric Acid has been used as the Absorbent. The object of the present essay is to trace, as far as possible, the various stages through which the sulphuric acid form of chemical Hygrometer has passed, and also to criticise the various forms, especially as regards their practical value in Meteorology. The evolution of this Hygrometer from the primitive form, in which it was first introduced by Gould, to the latest and most accurate modification, is very interesting. In 1683 William Gould, a Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford, published in the Philosophical Transactions ^ a paper giving “An Account of the increase of weight in Oyl of Vitriol exposed to the Air.” In this paper Gould gives an interesting account of the origin of his experiments on sulphuric acid; he says, “ The Industrious Chymist Mr. White our University Operator, having a Viol of that liquor unstopt and constantly running over, first gave oc- casion to the following notes.” In another place he remarks, “that liquids such as seem Saturated with their own moysture should nevertheless imbibe more from the Air is not mentioned by any Author I know of, except the aforesaid Learned person (Robert Boyle), who in his Tract of Aerial magnets advices tryals upon the liquid prepara- tions of Vitriol: I have heard indeed some Druggists have accidentally taken notice of this encrease in Oyl of Vitriol, (and perhaps have improv’d it to their own gain though to the detriment of the buyer,) but the observation never was prosecuted with any method or certain account how ^ Philosophical Transactions, yol. xiv. p. 4i>t5.