Page:On the various forces of nature and their relations to each other.djvu/152

148 other; and it will to-day require all my care, and your care too, to make this clear to your minds. I shall be obliged to confine myself to one or two instances, because, to take in the whole extent of this mutual relation and conversion of forces, would surpass the human intellect.

In the first place, then, here is a piece of fine zinc-foil; and if I cut it into narrow strips and apply to it the power of heat, admitting the contact of air at the same time, you will find that it burns; and then, seeing that it burns, you will be prepared to say that there is chemical action taking place. You see all I have to do is to hold the piece of zinc at the side of the flame, so as to let it get heated, and yet to allow the air which is flowing into the flame from all sides to have access to it;—there is the piece of zinc burning just like a piece of wood, only brighter. A part of the zinc is going up into the air, in the form of that white smoke, and part is falling down on to the table. This, then, is the action of chemical affinity exerted between the zinc and the oxygen of the air. I will shew you what a curious kind of