Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-01-28
AGRICULTURAL GEOLOGY.
N JOSIAH nol.BRook.



Oxus is the Greek word for acid rinomni in
Greek, means make hence the literal meaning
of oxygen is acid maker. Combined with sulphur
il f rus -ulphuric acid with utrogen,ni'rc acid
with carbon, carhonic aeid, DC. Respiration.
combustion aud fermentation are the three prin.
epal operations producing the combinations ui
oxygen and carbon; the results, curbonc acid.
Acids combine rcndily with metals, cnrths
and alkalies-aS iron, lime and potash. B1
chemists these combinations are called salts de
signated by the termination ate. Sulphurie ned
combining with various buses, produces ,ulphates;
nltre, nlratc~ carh' nc, carhunates. Sulphate
OF lime Is Gypsum or plaster of Paris; s0lphatc
Of ron coppcra- al ~oda guuber salts of mag
ne~ia, ep>om salts. The carbonate of lime Is
common lime stone, marbles, chalk, and many
beautiful crystals Carbonutes of iron, copper
and lead, and ores of those metals.
Ahont Il century ago water was found to he
composed OF oxygen aud hydrogen, and common
air OF oxygen and nitrogen. About half cen
fury since oxygen WIS found by Sir Humphrey
Davv to be an element of rocks of course of
soils, as it was of the alkalics, potash and sodn
The other elements in the cnrths and alaalic-
combined with oxygen, were found by the same
great chemist to be metals very peculiar in char.
actcr.
1t hence appears that oxygen is AN element in
air, earth and wat ~ existing abundantlv i'm solid
liquid and aerial forms. In the whole il consti.
tntcs nearly half our globe. 1t is of course, the
most abundant element III the material world 1t
Is also the most important agent in producing
changes IN matter essential to human existance
Is very appropriately called rifni air as neither
| animal life nor any life can exist without it, 1t
is no less essential to combustion than to life. II
also acts with great energy upon metal and other
| solid substances. In this action il produces
three very large and very important classes of
bodies--oMdes, acids and salts. Iron rust is the
oxide of iron the dross of lead oxide of lead !;
nurnt hme' the oxide of calcium; pure potash,
the oxide OF potassium pure soda, the oxide of
sodium; sllex or flint, the oxide of sihcum The
combination of one part oxygen and four of nj
trogen constitutes the atmosphere; three parts
oxygen and one nitrogen form nitric acid-uoua-
tortis Combined with other sabstances,it forms
numerous acids-Saltpetre is the nitrate of pot
| ASH The large quantity of oxygen it receives
from the nitric acid fits it for IA material in plm
| powder-givmg to that powerful agent its prn-
cipal power
A plate, tumhcr and scrap of paper, with a
httle water, will enable any teacher or parent To
| perform AN experiment ON oxygen equally simple.
instructive, and interesting. In II dee, plate
pour some water. On the water place "a scrap
OF thick paper, piece of cork, other light sub
stance; on q "a another piece of paper or cotton
moistened with oil On lighting the paper or
cotton, place over it II large empty tnmher. The
| combustion continues for IA few seconds and VIII, II
/ " Il "Nlngulshed the water occupies al ont one
nth OF the space in the tumbler, showing the me
eessity ct oxygen for combustion, aud that il
| constitutes about one fifth the air we breathe
! What man, woman ar child would not like to he
famiarly acquainted with an element So album
dant-an agent 50 active as oxygen, especially
| when such an acquaintance is equally simple.
useful and delightful
POST OFFICE AFFAIRs.--The Postmaster Gen
eral has established the following post-otlices in
Virginia and made appointments
kapid Ann Station, Cnlpopper county, VIM.
! ). Peyton, postmaster. This Office is located at
the place formerly known rs Will, Mil. now an
important depot on the Orange and Alexandra
railroadf The thi ky settled neighborhood will
thus have regular mail facilities. John Saver post