Flame

(flam.) [L.flam-Fig. 327. ma.] (Chem.) A F. is a CATHEDRAL OF ROUEN. gas or vapor raised to a high temperature by combustion. Its illuminating power varies with the nature of the product formed. The presence of a solid body in the F. increases the illuminating power. The flames of hydrogen, carbonic oxide, and alcohol are pale, because they only contain gaseous products of combustion. But the flames of candles, lamps, coal gas, have a high illuminating power. They owe this to the fact that the high temperature produced decomposes certain of the gases with the production of carbon, which, not being perfectly burned,becomes incandescent in the F. Coal gas, when burnt in an arrangement by which it obtains an adequate supply of air, is almost entirely devoid of luminosity. Anon-luminous F. may be made luminous by placing it in platinum wire, or asbestos. The temperature of a F.does not depend on its illuminating power. A hydrogen F., which is the palest of all flames, gives the greatest heat. [s. 368]