The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-05
Agrieuiiafxi 0.oiosy-xs. IL.
nY IoslAH Hoittook.

Oxus is the Greek word for acid gfnon,ai, In
Greek. means make; hence the literal meaning OF
oxygen is acid maker. Combined with sulphur II
rims sa!phurc acid; with nitrogen, nitric acid !;
with cafbot; tsrbcnie acid, &c, Respiration. com
buston and icrilleh.atiotr, are the three principal
operations producing the Cclhbiua,lons Of oxygen
and carbon the results. carbonic atias
Acids combine readily with metals, earths and
alkalcs-ss iron. lime, and potash, BY chemists
these combinations are called salts, designated by
the terIhlnation ate. Sulphuric acid combining
trates; carbQpic. carbonates. sulphate Of lime is
gypsum plaster Of Paris; suphate OF iron, cop
peras; Of soda, gIauber salts, vi magnesa, epsom
salts. The carbonate OF lime is common lime
stone, marbles, chalk, and many beautiful crystals.
Carbonates of iron, copper, and lead, are ores Of
those metals.
About century. ago water was found to be
compo sed of oxygen and hydrogen. and common
since oxygen was !c.,nd by Sir Humphrey Dayy
be an element Of rocks, 6f vi soils, IA it
was Of the alkalies, potash and soda Ibc other
elements in the earths and alkalies, combined With
oxygen, were found by the same great chemist to
be tnetals very peculiar in character.
II hence appears that oxygen is element in
air, earth, and water, existing abundany III solid,
liquid, and arial forms. In the whole it consti-
tutes nearly half our globe, Ii is, Of course, the
most abundant element in the mate rial world. IT
Is also the most important agent In producing
changes in matter essential to human existetce:
II is very appropriately called vital air neither
animal life nor any life exist without il. 1t is
less essential to combustion than To life. It also
acts with great energy upon metals and other
solid substances. In this action it produces three
very large and very important classes Of bodies
xydes. acids, and salts Iron rust Is the oxyde Of
iron; the dross Of lead, oxyde OF leads burnt lme
tho oxyde OF calcium; pure potash, The oxyde of
Potassium, pure soda, the oxyde of sodium; slick or
ilint the oxyde of sicium. The combination Of
one part oxygen and four Of nitrogen constitutes
the atmosphere; three parts oxygen and one nitro
gen form nitric acid, aqueforiis Cori1Sined with
other substances, il forms numerous acids saitps-
tire is the nitrate of potash The large quantyof
oxygenis receives from the nitric acid fits it Tor
material in gunprwder-giving to that powerful
agent its principal power;
A plate, turnbler and scrap OF paper, with little
water, will enable any teacher parent 10 perform
an experiment on oxygen, equally simple, instrfc-
tive. and interesting. In deep plate pour some
water. On the water place scrap Of thick paper,
piece of cork. other light substance; that
other piece of paper cotton mostened with oil.
On lighting the paper cotton, place il
large empty tumbler. The com rbustion continues
for few seconds, and whes il is cxtingushed the
water occupies about one-fifth Of the space in the
tumbler, showing the necessityof oxygen for com
bustion, aud that IL consttutes'about one fifth the
air we breathe What man, woman, or child would
not like 10 be faln;.arly acquainted with an ele-
rncnt 30 abundant-an agent go active oxygen,
especially when such au acquaintance ia equally
simple, useful and delightful?