Litchfield enquirer., 1836-04-21


Professor sILLIMAN, Of Yale College.
delivering Course of Lectures on Chemistr
1t Boston, a sketch Of which appears frOT
time to time in the Mercantile Journal. w
extract portion of what is given Of the FRI
and second lectures:
Thelecturer proceeded to exaninefh Pran
cipal properties Of the atmospheric air, anon
which he enumerated its weight. which ma
easily be illustrated by the pressure when
every where occasiOns-its elasticity. on who
property depends the transmission OF SCUM
Its reiractiOn, its buOyancy. and its temper
n,ure. continually varying. It is also the We
hicle az odots, and probably Of the ""kn NV
power which we dcnOminate eOntGgtOM., ,,ent
atmosphere is beautiful Aoatins ss .,h and
ar ouier covering surrounding inc r .nreads
.o.,;oo nm another. water. when S'9 .;rbt ia
nvor large mart of its surface NJ, ,scs,,rar
..d p, 10 about IS miles. -. In.,.
sSupPOSe. ~ satisfactory experiment. @ ;,
:....aa =. noecha nicaI prOPeF.r0 L.;;
'.,.ass,,rs and practically ex9laineu ,,asr.
~. If The BarOn'etcr-tr""' r..'atvIr;rhr
H., = column Of quicksilver Oh '"eny e."
~ fweofy-nine inches. weighs pFec'sey W ~
sa,ae az n column Of whole atmosphere. ~
ssn S character Ofthe atmosphere
:. ;nvea,;caied. it would be found to be COM
mound. This was proved by placing a jar o.
ser niece Of lighted phosphorus, Whicn sup
rort. conhusiiOn. known to chemists by tue
rs,,,a ~ oxygen. The atmospheric ar Is
.a.,n,sad of four parts Of nitrogen, 10 one OF
800, Nitrogen alone will not support com
I,.s,;on or sustain life-it may therefore b"
reearded as destroyer Of life. but both com
bined. confer health and long life. Nitrogen
Is chiefly ola negative character, and its prop.
critics, unless when combined with other agents
are not interesiing-it is somewhat edOrous,
fa.teless, and its gravity is less than that Of
the atmosphere. But the properties of oxy-
gen are most interesiing-and its wonderful
now er of combustion was illustrated by the
iecturet in the beautiful experiment Of barn
ing strip of steel. Oxygen is the principle
Of combustion in every thing. Were this the
only property Of or atmosphere, fires could
never be extinguished. tits also. except In
few rare cases. indispensable in the support OF
animal life. 1t is colorless, inodorous, and
tasteless, and is diffused throughout the at
being more difficult 10 say where
It is not, tl,an where it 10. This agent was
discovered 10 1874.
Mr. Sman explained the mode Of ascef
tanning the weight Of gaseous bodies-1s0
cubic inches of atmospheric air. weighing so
grains. Hydrogen gas was the highest body
known, 100 cubic inches weighing only Fl
grains. He next explained the nature and
Of various combtlsfible bodies. ut
which there were different varieties, some re-
quiring intense heat to produce combustion.
and others less. Among the whole number ct
bodies. it had been stated that z
we're not metalic-and the Lecturer confined
himself during the evening 10 explaining the
of sulphur and carbon. The COM
mon properties and history Of sulphur were
well known. 1t was found 10 all volcanic |
countries, and was evolved from metallic sub |
quantities Of It were brought |
rom Italy, also from the East Indies, and also J
rom the West Indies. When burning it pro-
iuces an acid. and becomes purified by sabli-
nation. Sulphurous acid contained equiv
.lent Of sulphur and Ofoxygen. 1t is capa-
BE Of great observation-disclosures in craters |
Of volcanoes and is often greatly annoying 10 |
rolcanic regions. 1t han the property Of red |
iening and destroying the greater part Of the !
blue vegetable colors. It is used for bleach !
Jog straws, b0nnets, &c. Sulphuric acid is
exceedingly useful to man-it is an acid of
great strength, and is one of the heaviest fluids
specific gravity being nearly doub |
e that Of water. II mingles with water 10 ev-
Fry proportion, and evolves heat. 1t is man.
afactured 10 great quantities, and is great
benefit to science. II is used 10 various man
nfactures; and 10 all chemical laboratories.
Mr.. Silliman explained the relations which
exist between combustible bodies and oxygen,
and also the relations which these bodies bear
10 each other He spoke Of the properties OF
sulphuretted hydrogen gas. which Is exceed [
ingy disgusting to the smell and taste-is| [
highly inflamable, aud destructive to life
has been the cause Of melancholy accidents in
The large cities of Europe-s0metimes prOdu-
cling among persons employed in cleaning the
pubic sewers, asphy xia. suEocation and death.
Chlorine is a perfect antidote TO this gas.
Nit. s. explained the mode Of detecting
lead, which is always more or less poisonous,
in water. He alluded to the impurities in the
Boston water, enlarged on the Importance Of
the city with pure water which is
above all price, aud adding vastly to the con-
venience, ard health Of the inhabi,ants.
He described the properties Of Carbon, or
charcoal, a substance which is welt known To
every one. Its formed by burning wood.
while the atmospheric air is excluded. by
which means the expulsion Of all that 10 vola-
WE takes place, until nothing but vegetable
sSxs'e'on semaias. Burning charcoal is nothing
nv nv chemical experiment on a large SCALE
a. Mis substance contains many admirable prop
:, !. soms (which are only partially known.
"a a" .Ssnr.sep!ic-being capable Of cleaning
a.u p"."ysHs me loulest substances, animal
,h..aS.s s" !. T.. Although apparently soft
knife. the particles are in reality vsrv hard-;fI
heated repeatedly, it may he msSs Az = ""' ss.n
glass. II has also the property Of shs sos;s
gases and serial substances. Wh.o %."scoe
It produces deleterious gas, eaWsa eo.h".:
0scid gas, which is highly dss,ruc,iye ~ oo Va;
NAL life. IT'S mistaken idea that. ,oh. "H !.
bsras sciih clear bright fame, its Effects or -
Rof injurious. The lecturer strongly caution.
ed his audience against burning charcoal Ia !