John MacCulloch, On an Accidental Sublimation of Silica (1814)
“ There can be no doubt that they were crystals of silica, however difficult we may find it to form them at pleasure, and the rarity of the occurrence only serves to prove that there are properties and relations of this substance with which we are as yet unacquainted. ”
John MacCulloch, On an Accidental Sublimation of Silica (1814)
“ In a geological view it may perhaps be worthy of record as not only establishing the volatility of silica, but serving to prove that this substance may be crystallized from the state of vapour, as sulphur, some neutral salts, and some metals are known to be. How far this property of vaporization and crystallization from that state may be possessed by the other earths, or by earthy compounds, as it undoubtedly is by all the metals, must be determined by future observations. ”
John MacCulloch, On an Accidental Sublimation of Silica (1814)
“ Mr. Aikin was so good as to undertake the examination of the reserved portion, and from his well known accuracy, the Society will naturally place confidence in our mutual results. On igniting them in successive portions of borax and of pure potash, they were dissolved. ”
