Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-08-01

lne substance winch we ma at the neaQ
of the list is Oxygen. This elementary body
was discovered by Priestly on the 1st Of Au-
gust, l774. This was indeed q new era for
chemical science. Previous to this date, all
had been darkness the great chain of rea-
soning was Recommendations gigantic link
was missing-that link was Oxygen Cas-
When Priestly discovered this gas, he de-
nominated it dephlogisticated air. Soon af-
ter this, it was examined by Scheele, who
called it empyreal air. 1t was again exam
ined by Condorcet, who discovered that this
gas was the vivifying air for animals, he
therefore called it Vital Air. The name
Oxygen was given to it by the French no.
menclaturists, at whose head stood Savoisier
These philosophers gave it this name because
they thought that its presence was necessary
for the production of all acids, that is to say,
they thought that all substances to be acid,
must consist of Oxygen united with some
other body. Thus they said very truly, that
Nitric Acid was a compound of Nitrogen
with Oxygen, and that Sulphuric Acid was
composed of Sulphur and Oxygen. They
brought forward a host of other acids to prove
their assertion, but by the Investigations of
latter Chemists, this hypothesis has been
proved erroneous, for we are now acquainted
with numerous acids which do not contain
one atom of Oxygen: it is by this name,
however, that the gas is known tothe chemi-
cal world. This gas is more abundantly
dlffused throughout nature, than any other
element with which we are acquainted. 1t
forms S.9th of the weight of all the water on
the surface of our planet, about 18th of the
atmosphere, and in the solid particles of our
globe itself we find the same universal ele-
ment existing in large relative proportions.
To manufacture Oxygen on a large scale, the
substance generally used is Black Oxide Of
Manganese: lib. of this oxide will produce,
by proper manipulation, 5 gallons Of Oxygen
Gas. The mode of preparing it from this
substance is simple, bat tedious A sufficient
4 quantity of the oxide, in fine powder, is in
troduced into an iron bottle with ar exit tube,
this arrangement is then placed in a furnace
and exposed to a full red heat, when q CO.
/ pious supply of gas is liberated, invisible
e like the atmosphere, c~olorless and inodorous.
This gas is pure Oxygen. The residue found
in the bottle is an Oxide of Manganese, for
this substance does not lose all it's oxygen
by heat, but only a part of it. When a small
quantity only Of the gas is wanted, it is more
{ easily prepared from Chlorate of Potash
a The salt is first reduced to powder, a small.
q quantity of this powder is then put into a
i, retort or generator, the mouth or exit tube Of
which should be placed under water, heat is
then applied, the salt is decomposed and Ok
ygen is liberated. 1t will assist the actor
very much, if an equal part of brick dust OF
/ black oxide of copper be mixed with thu
n chlorate of potash in the retort. / have ex
e planned how Oxygen may be prepared, let u
now descend together into the retort or yes
sci in which the decomposition has beer
effected, and examine what has taken place
Chlorate of Potash 1.-THE salt placed in til
%retort) is a substance extremely rich in Oxy
gen, and one which will give up this Oxyge
% very readily. This salt is composed Of on
atom of the Metal Potassium, one atom c
q Chlorine, and six atoms of Oxygen immf
diately on the application of heat, the 81
+ atoms of Oxygen are liberated, and being
gas, instantly escape by the mouth of tn
IN retort, whilst the Chlorine and the POTASSIUM
!. being very fond Of each other, or as tn
Chemists say, having a great attraction fe
each other, combine and form a new sui
stance, namely, Chloride of Potassium. Ok,
gen is eminently a supporter of combustion
ed A lighted taper introduced into this gas,
very rapidly consumed with intense Ignite
D. and enlargement of the flame, and if it
n, previously blown out so that the wick co,
on tinues to glow, it Immediately bursts in
" flame when plunged into the Jar OF Oxyge
- phosphorus Wnen lnuaWeu III Iue deihosphe
a burns with a bright light, but in Oxygen tt
eye can scarcely bear its briiliancy. SGlphI
an which burns in the air with a small bl
IRE aoma hIo1as with n beautiful uurple col
it'll 1rben ;mr,orso5 in OXYGEN. One of the me
.e') brilliant instances of combustion in Oxyge
Hg is the burning Of iron wire. The result
or these experiments, is exactly the same as
In the combustion had taken place in the a
be- only that the action is much more intense.
al. All substances when burned in Oxygen or
ze' the air, are converted into oxides or aci'
From the burning of our taper in this g
rye we obtain Carbonic Acid Gas, the carbon
nat charcoal of the taper has united with Oxyg
in the form of one of Carbon to two of u
: gen, the formula for Carbonic Acid. Aga
in the case of the Sulphur, this substar
will has united with the Oxygen, and form
Sulphurous Acid and likewise in the cas-