Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-01-17
L
AGRICULTURAL GEoLoGY-No. 2
By JOSIAH HoLBRooK.

III JOSlAH
Oxus is the Greek word for acid: eino-
mai, in Greek, means make: hence the
literal meaning of oxygen is acid maker.
Combined with sulypur il forms sui
Pburic acid; with nitrogen, nitric acid;
with carbon, carbonic acid, SC. Respir-
alton. combustion, and fermentation are
the three principal operations producing
the combinations Of oxygen and carbon;
the results carbonic acid.
Acids combine readily with metals,
earths and alkelie-as iron, lime, and
potash. By chemists these combinations
are called salts designated by the termi-
nation ate. Sulphuric acid, combining
with various bases, produces sulphates;
nitre, nitrates; ~carbonic, carbonates. Sui
Phate Of lime is gypsum, or plaster of
Paris; sulPhate Of iron, copperas; of soda
glauber salts; Of magnesia, epson salts.
The carbonate Of lime is common lime
stone, marbles, chalk, and many beauti-
full crystals. Carbonates of iron. conner
and lead are ores Of those metals.
About a century ago water was found
to be composed of oxygen and hydrogen,
and common air Of oxygen and nitrogen.
About half a century since oxyeen was
found by Sir Humphrey Davy to be an
element Of rocks, of course of soils. as If
was of the alkelies, potash, and soda.
The other elements in earths and alkelies,
combined with oxygen, were found, BY
the same great chemist, 10 be metals very
peculiar in character.
|: hence appears that oxygen is an ele-
ment in air, earth, and water, existing a.
bundantly in solid, liquid, and aerial forms,
In the whole it constitutes hearty half Of
our globe. 1t is, of course, the most abun,
dant element in the material world. II
is also the most important agent in pro.
ducing changes in matter essential t
human existence. 1t is very appropri
ately called vital air, as neither anima
life nor any life can exist without it. |
IS no less ESSENTIAL to combustion than t,
life. 1t also acts with great energy mn
on metals and other solid substances. i
this action it produces three very larg,
and very important classes of bodies
oXydes, acids, and salts. Iron rust i
the oxyde of iron; the dross of lead
= oxyde of lead burnt lime, the oxyde q
calcium pure potash, the oxyde Of poi
! asium pure soda, the oxyde Of sodium
slick. or flint the oxyde of silicium. TIL
: combination of one part oxy gen and fou
OF nitrogen constitutes the atmosphere
Z three parts oxygen and one nitrogen forr
nitric acid, aquafortis. Combined wit
: other substances, forms numerous acid.
{ Saltpetre is the nitrate of potash. Til
quantity of oxygen it receives from tn
nltre acid fits il for a material in guI
= powder-giving to that powerful agel
] its principal power.
: A plate, tumbler, and scraps of pane
with a little water, will enable any teacI
er or parent, to perform an expegimeI
y on oxygen equally simple, instructiy
and interesting. In a deem plate Do
some water. On the water place a scr;
= Of thick paper, piece of cork, or 9th
light substance on that another piece
~ paper or cotton, moistened with oil. {
lighting the paper or cotton, place ov
it a large empty tumbled. The combu
: ton continues for a few seconds al
when it is extinguished the water dec
pies about one-ifth Of the space in Il
tumbler. showing necessity of oxyg,
for combustion, and that it constitutes
bout one-6fth Of the air we breathe.
i What man, woman, or child would n
~ like to be Familiarity acquainted with
8 element SO abundant, an agent so acti
as oxygen, especially when such an a
90 qaaintance is equally simple. useful a