|
|
Text 2. INFLAMMABLE AIR
Joseph Black described in 1754 what we now know as carbon dioxide (CO2). He was not only the first scientist to identify a gas. What’s more, he demonstrated that there exist different types of “air,” or gases. Twelve years later, Henry Cavendish, an English scientist, reported to the London Royal Society that such metals as zinc, iron, tin may “generate inflammable air by solution in acids.” The new gas got the name “inflammable air” as it could burn easily. The gas is now known as hydrogen (H2), and it was the second gas that was identified and the first gaseous element isolated.
Cavendish measured the weight of a sample of the gas while measuring the loss of weight of the zinc-acid mixture within reaction. As he knew the volume, he was able to calculate its density. He found out that inflammable air was 11 times less dense than ordinary air. Such a discovery resulted in the occurrence of aeronautical balloons lighter than air. In 1783 in France Jacques Charles managed to launch the first ever created hydrogen balloon, less than two weeks after the Montgolfier brothers successfully launched their first manned hot-air balloon.
Explosive discoveries
Henry Cavendish also is known for experimenting with the mixtures of measured samples of his gas with known volumes of air in bottles. His research led to the discovery that with nine parts of air to one of hydrogen there was a slow, quiet flame; but with increasing proportions of hydrogen the mixture exploded with increasing ferocity; however, pure hydrogen did not ignite at all. Cavendish’s research was still handicapped by an obsolete notion from the past that a firelike element (“phlogiston”) can be released during the process of combustion. However, the scientist was precise in his experiments and in his further reportings.
Defining water
Despite Henry Cavendish used the term “phlogisticate,” he managed to show that the only new material produced within the reaction was water, and deduced that two volumes of inflammable air combined with one volume of oxygen. To be more precise, he demonstrated that the composition of water is H2O. He reported his findings to Joseph Priestley, 7 but still was diffident regarding publishing his results. So, his friend James Watt was the first to announce the formula publicly, in 1783. Still, Cavendish managed to calculate the composition of air as “one part dephlogisticated air [oxygen], mixed with four of phlogisticated [nitrogen]”—these are the two gases that make up 99 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere as we now know.
Exercises
1. Translate the following sentences from the text paying attention to the underlined words
• He was not only the first scientist to identify a gas.
• Henry Cavendish, an English scientist, reported to the London Royal Society that such metals as zinc, iron, tin may “generate inflammable air by solution in acids.”
• As he knew the volume, he was able to calculate its density.
• Cavendish’s research was still handicapped by an obsolete notion from the past that a firelike element (“phlogiston”) can be released during the process of combustion.
• Despite Henry Cavendish used the term “phlogisticate,” he managed to show that the only new material produced within the reaction was water, and deduced that two volumes of inflammable air combined with one volume of oxygen.
• These are the two gases that make up 99 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere as we now know. 2. Find Russian equivalents to the following words and expressions: To report to – a solution – to identify – to isolate – a sample of gas – to launch - pure hydrogen – an obsolete notion – inflammable – combustion - to announce the formula 3. Form nouns from the following adjectives: Scientific – different – gaseous – reactive – dense – experimental 4. Finish the following sentences from the text: • The new gas got the name “inflammable air” as …
• Cavendish measured the weight of a sample of the gas while …
• Henry Cavendish also is known for …
• Cavendish’s research was still handicapped by …
• James Watt was the first to …
5. Translate into English the following words and expressions:
Áîëåå òîãî – ãàçîîáðàçíûé ýëåìåíò – â òå÷åíèå ðåàêöèè – ïëîòíîñòü – çàïóñòèòü – ïîâûñèòü – âîñïëàìåíèòüñÿ – ïðîöåññ ãîðåíèÿ – ñî÷åòàòüñÿ ñ - îïóáëèêîâàòü ðåçóëüòàòû.
6. Translate the text in the written form
7. Give a brief written summary of the text in English basing on its key ideas (10 sentences)
8. Answer the following questions:
• Who was the first to describe carbon dioxide?
• Who reported that zinc, iron, tin generate inflammable air by solution in acids?
• What is the modern name of inflammable air?
• What is the peculiarity about pure hydrogen?
• What was the obsolete notion that handicapped Cavendish’s research?
• What did Jacques Charles manage to launch?
• Who was the first to demonstrate the composition of water?
• How did it happen?