HOWTOMAKEANOTHERFUEL*
CAUTION:see Noteonpage 66.Gather these materials: Anuprightstandandclamp;an alcoholburner; 2
test tubes;one l-holedstopperand one 2-holed stopper;3 woodensplints
brokeninhalf(or 6woodenmatches with the"heads"removed);1 pieceof
glasstubingbent at a45-degre~angle; Ipieceofglasstubingstretchedto form
a nozzle;anda testtuberack.
Follow this procedure:Using theuprightstandandclamp,arrangeone test
tubeat a 45-degree angle pointingupward. Putthe piecesofwoodintoit.
Insertthe bentglasstubingintothe l-holedrubberstopper,andinsertthe
stopperinto themouthofthe test tube.Puttheotherendofthis glasstubing
throughthe 2-holed rubberstopper. Putthe 2-holed rubberstopperintothe
secondtest tube, andpushthe glasstubingdown to thebottomofthe test tube.
Putthe glasstubingwith the nozzle end into the otherhole in the 2-holed
stopper.Putthe second testtubein the rack. Check thediagramto seethatyour
apparatusis set up correctly.Nowlight thealcoholburnerandheatthe dry
wood.Watchthe second test tube. Afterabout5 minutesofheating,holda
matchto the endofthe nozzle.
Results:Therewas no flame inside the testtubecontainingwood. Since you
did notapply flame directly to the wood, itdidn'treach itskindling point.
Nevertheless,youcouldseethatit was beingburnedup. Theheatwasgreat
enoughto forcecertainchemicalsoutofthe wood. These collected in the form
ofthe yellowishliquidin the second test tube. When you broughta match
nearthe nozzle, the gas escaping from the yellowliquidignited.
The lossofcertainchemicalschangedthe wood in the testtubeintocharcoal,
a fueltMtiscommerciallyvaluable. The yellow liquid, driven off from the
wood,~ntainschemicals which are a sourceofvaluabledrugsanddyes.