electrepeter

[Gr. elektron =amber, and trepo=to turn.] Elect.: An instrument for changing the direction of electric currents. IMG:content-0828.png:[blocks in formation] In 1893 an American electrician discovered that a bar of iron immersed in a solution of sulphuric acid and cold water could be easily fused by the application of a strong electric current. The mode of procedure is as follows: The ve el employed is made of gla or porcelain, provided with a sheet lead electrode connected to the positive pole of a continuous-current generator, and contains a mixture of sulphuric acid and water. A flexible cable from the negative pole is connected to a strong pair of pliers with insulated handles. Taking in the pliers a piece of metal of any kind-iron, for instance and immersing it in the acidulated water, the liquid is seen immediately to boil near the iron rod or plate, which latter is rapidly heated, and brought to a dazzling whitene in a few seconds, and soon begins to melt. The heating is produced so quickly that neither the liquid nor the body of the metal rod has time to become hot. So rapid an evolution of he at nece arily means a tremendously high temperature. In a very short time a temperature of 7.000° Fahrenheit has been developed, which is proved by using a carbon rod instead of a metal one, when in a few moments amorphous carbon fragments are seen dropping off. With strong currents the enormously high temperature of 14,000° Fahrenheit, or nearly five times hotter than molten iron, has been produced.