An elderly cousin was telling me about a large barrel or vat that was situated outside her house in upstate New York in the early 1900's. The vat/barrel contained a white substance that provided an off-gassing that supplied fuel for gas lamps used in homes. Would anyone know what this substance/process might have been?
2006-10-04 00:03:10 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
probably calcium carbide in water to produce acetylene gas. It used to be used for lamps on coaches and early motor vehicles too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_carbide
Best of Luck - Mike
2006-10-04 00:08:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We once had a small cannon for scaring rabbits (out of the garden!) that used calcium carbide. Water dripped onto what looked like crushed stones and produced a gas that would periodically light and explode Bang!!! (using a candle?).
2006-10-04 08:09:46 · answer #2 · answered by Kes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In dublin, whale blubber was used to fuel street lamps so its probably the same stuff
2006-10-04 07:05:19 · answer #3 · answered by survival_paul 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋