Manchester, England/manchester030
Previous | Home | NextJohn Dalton's interest in meteorology allowed him to ponder on why gases mix so readily. He thought the reason might be the existence of atoms ("tiny spheres"); if matter was continuous, then different compounds would tend to separate out. But even more convincing evidence was his observation that constant ratios of elements combined to form compounds, specifically, methane ("carburetted hydrogen gas," or marsh gas) and ethylene ("olefiant gas," discovered by the Dutch). In this painting, a group of children watch Dalton and his assistant as they collect methane; the eldest girl is explaining that Mr. Dalton was catching "Jack o'Lantern" -- the substance of the Will o' the Wisp. See next photo for expansion.
