Reciprocal Combustion

Reciprocal combustion

From the foregoing it is clear that a flame resulting from chemical action, or Reciprocal Combustion must be regarded as a meeting ground between combustible gases - a region where chemical combination is proceeding with great activity. For the sake of convenience air is regarded as a supporter of combination, and coal gas as the combustible body. But this is simply a convention, and if a glass globe be filled with coal gas, as in fig., and ignited at B to prevent its free escape into the room - a lighted taper may be made to ascend A and ignite the air drawn by suction up the tube. This is air burning in an atmosphere of coal gas.