pneumatic trough

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a trough filled with liquid, especially water, for collecting gases in bell jars or the like by displacement.

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pneumatic trough British  

noun

1. chem a shallow dishlike vessel filled with a liquid, usually water, and used in collecting gases by displacement of liquid from a filled jar held with its open end under the surface of the liquid

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Etymology

Origin of pneumatic trough

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

Priestley's pneumatic trough is at this day to be found in every laboratory; it is extremely simple and extremely perfect.

From Project Gutenberg

Pneumatic trough, invented by Priestley, 57.

From Project Gutenberg

Priestley, Joseph, born, 52; bred for the ministry, 53; writes on electricity, 55; his pneumatic trough, 57; discovers oxygen, 59; meets Lavoisier, 61, 85; goes to Birmingham, 65; his experiments on hydrogen, 66; his house burnt by rioters, 71; emigrates to America, 72; dies there, 73; resumé of his work, 102; his method compared with that of Dalton, 151.

From Project Gutenberg

If, now, the bottle is removed from the pneumatic trough and the weight of water found which fills the bottle to the same height, the weight of the water in grammes will give the volume of the gas in cubic centimetres, and, knowing the weight of a cubic centimetre of oxygen, we easily calculate the weight of this gas resulting from the chemical process.

From Project Gutenberg

A weighed amount of oxide of silver is placed in a glass tube connected with a pneumatic trough.

From Project Gutenberg