The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1851-01-08
AGRICULTURAL GEOLOGY-No. 2
BY JOSIAH HuLBRoOl


Oxus is the Greek word Tor acid; ginoma
in Greek means make; hence the literal
meaning of oxygen is acid makfy. Combined
with sulphur, il forms suIphurlc acid; with
nitrogen, nitric acid; with carbon, cabonic
acid. &c. Respiration, combustion and fer
lnentauon are the three principal operations
producing the combinations of oxygen and
carbon; the results, cafbonic acid
Acids combIne readily with metals, earths
and alkalies as iron, lime and potash. By
chemists, these combinations are called salts,
designated by The termination ate. SuIphurIc
acid combining with various haser, produces
sulphates; uitric, nirates; carbonc, carbo
mates. Sulphate of lime is gypsum or plas-
ter of Paris; snIphate of iron, copperas; Of
soda, glauber sails; of magnesia, EPSON salts.
The carbonate OF Inns is common limestone,
marbles, chalk. aud many beautiful cry stalls.
Carbonates Of iron, copper, and lead are ores
tol hose metals.
! About a century ago water was found 10
| be composed of oxygen aud hydrogen. and
common air Of Oxygen and nitrogen. About
half century since, oxygen was found by
Sir Humphrey Davy, to I've an element OF
rocks. OF course OF soils, ns il was OF The ai-
kales, confined with oxygen, we're found by
The same great chemist, TO be OF metals very
peculiar in character.
Ii hence appears thar oxygen is an element
in air, earth any water, existing abundantly
in solid. liquid and aerial forms, In the whole
III constitutes neaIIy half our glooe. II is. ol
course, the most abundant element in the
material world. II is also the most impor-
liant agent III producing changes in matter
Iessenlial 10 human existence. II is very APP
Ipropriately called pitdl air, as neither ami
NAL life nor any life can exist without il. II
liz less essential to combustion than 10 lite
II also acts with great energy upon metals
and other solid substances. in this action il
produces three very large and very important
classes Of bodies axydes, acids and salts
Iron rust is the oxyde of iron; the dross Of
lead, oyyde Of lead burnt lime, the oxyde ol
calcium, pure potash, the oxyde OF potassium
pure soda, the oxyde of sodium; sllex or
IHint, The oxyde Of siIicium. The combination
o' one arr ,xygen, and fur OF nitrogen
consl;Intes the atmosphere; three parts oxy
Igen and nne nitrogen form nitric acid, aqua
lfotis. Combined with other Substances, il
forms numerous acids. Salpetre is the ntre
of potash. The large quantity Of oxygen il
receives from the nitric acid fits il ioI ma.
,erial 10 gunpowder giving 10 that powerful
agent IFS principal power.
\ A plate, tumbIer and scrap nf paper, with
o little water, will enable any teacher or pa
lreni TO perform an experiment on oxygen
equally simple, instructive and interesting.
In deep plate pour somc water On the
water place scrap Of thick paper, piece Of
cnrk, or Other light substance; on lh'i am
oiher piece ofpnper or cotton moseEeJ with
uiI On lighting The paper or cotton, place
aver il n large empty tumhler The COM
lbustion rcnlinues for few seconds, and
4 when il sext;nguishcd ibe water occupies
sb0u, one fifth Of he space in the tumbler,
showing the necessity of oxygen for combus-
ltion. and thaln constitutes nbout'one fifth q
The air We hreatbe. What man, woman, Of
1child would 20, like 10 be lalniliarly acquain
tied with an element so abundant, and an a,
lgent so ac,ive as oxygen, especially whel
isuch an acquaintance il cqually simple, use
lIu' and delIghlfuis
II -. ..I'. ~