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EXPERIMENT XXXVII. Of the seeming spontaneous Ascent of Salts, along the sides of Glasses, with a Conjecture at the Cause of it.
I Have several times observ'd, that the watery Part of a Solution of Sea-Salt or Vitriol, be∣ing evaporated, the coagulated Salts would creep up the sides of wide-mouth'd Glasses, in which the Solution was contain'd; and not only so, but if the Experiment were longer continu'd, they would rise over the sides of the Glass, and cover the external Superficies with a Crust of Salt.
As for the Cause of so strange a Phaenomenon, tho' I will not be positive in it; yet, it may not improbably depend on the like Cause, as the As∣cent of Water in the Tube, mention'd in the foregoing Experiment.
For we may observe, that the Edges of Water are not only above the Superficies of the rest of the Water; but Sea-Salt as well as several others, chrystallize at the Top of the Liquor they swim in, and near the sides of the Glass, their Coa∣gulation being promoted by the Coldness of it; which Salts, when once the sides of the Glass is beset with them, the Water may rise to the Top, for the same Reason that it does in the slender Pipe before mention'd, and Salts carri'd up to the Top of those, and coagulating there, still lay a further Bottom for their Ascent; and so successively, till they rise to the Top of the Vi∣ol: And that there are Passages betwixt these sa∣line Parts, for the Water to ascend through, ap∣pears; since they may be broke off in Flakes,