Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-09-12

munster; in this country, in the Western
part of Pennsylvania, and it IS also found
to exist in the waters of the Dead oea, but
nearly all the bromine of commerce Is OBJ
tained from sea-water. 1t is the bromine
in sea-water in combination with magnesia
that gives to that liquid its peculiar bitter
taste. The preparation of this substance
from sea water involves many complex pro-
cesses, but 1 shall try to explain it as
simply as possible.
Itis prepared as follows The sea-water
is evaporated and chrystalized until all
crystalline matter is removed there re-
mains after this process of evaporation
Liquor which will not crystalizea called
+" Bittern." This Bittern contains all the
Bromine in combination with Magnesium,
forming the Bromide of Magnesium-this
compound being very soluble in water A
stream of chlorine gas is then passed thro'
this solution which, having greater af-
6nity for Magnesium than Bromine has,
Immediately seizes that substance, and the
Bromine is left free in the solution, now
of an orange-brown tint; portion of sui.
phuric ether is then shaken up with this
solution; the bromine unites with the |
ether, and is found floating on the top of
the liquor; for it is well known fact that
ether is specifically lighter than water and
not mixable with it for these reasons it
rises to the top of the liquid and carries
the bromine along with it; this ETHEREAL
: solution is then agitated with strong So
! luton of potassa by which bromate of po-
tassa and bromide of potassium are found
the fluid then separates into two parts
> one containing the ether, which may be
|, separated and used again, and the other,
the bromine salts, which is now eyaporated
to dryness, and the residue, exposed to
dull red heat, leaves bromide of potassium.
: And here it may be remarked, why you
= are not a whit nearer finished than you
!. were when the experiment began-for the
/ bromine is still combined? ? Yes, it is still
! in combination but not now united with
! magnesium, as in the first place one more
|. operation gives US free bromine. The sub
stance we have now obtained is mixed with
. : half its weight of oxide of manganese and
i its weight of diluted sulphuric acid this
= = mixture is then distilled into cold receiv-
. er containing water, and into which the
- beak of the retort should dip. The bromine
! passes over from retort to condenser of a
!, deep orange-colored vapor which very soon
y condenses into dark brown color. There
: are therefore three processes necessary for
! the elemination of bromine from sea- water
I 1st, evaporation; End, combination; Sd,
:, distillation. Bromfne is exceeding vol.
= atile substance, so much so indeed, that it
- Il has to be preserved under water. 1t stains
~ ~ the skin of yellow color; acts with great
r. energy upon most vegetable and animal
!, substances, and is instantly fatal to animal
- = life single drop put on the beak of a
~ ~ bird Immediately produces death. Bro
~ ~ mine is easily solidi6ed at temperature ot
= zero of farenheit; it is very insoluble il
!. water, but much more soluble in alcoho
&c and ether tits non conductor of electri
10 city; it boils at temperature of 1852
- All its compounds are called bromides ant
oOof bromates, but these are of very little inter
- est. Chlorine, Iodine and Bromine are b
is i some chemists supposed to be the sam
- ;ta substance, with only their particles al
40 ranged in different order. Such are calle
= homolagous compounds, and are said to
- homaloids. For full explanation of thes
terms, peruse some chemical text book
1o0 For the powerful action of this elemen
there can be no doubt that it must contr
y" butte to the medicinal powers of those mil
uo eral waters in which it exists from i
~ scarcity and power, it is however rare
':n IMo used in medicine, but when used it acts
1n ,no powerful caustic. We now pass on
~ the study of Flourine:
nl This elementary body is found in comt
~ nation with -four spar, mineral common
noc 1.: known as Blue John and Derbyshire Spa
'ine ~ This mineral is found in large quantiti
=, in Cumberland, Westmoreland and Derb
,no nI shire, England, and also in Western Ca1
Ivy lima. There is no elementary substan
iOiI with which we are less acquainted tn
'AN anu with Flourine. We can easily obtain OF
I uiT. gen, chlorine and iodine but it is We
'uIS lIc difficult to set fonrine free. With the
sgn' ceptions of M. Baudrimont and the Mess
0uu- Knox, | am not aware of any Chemi
npo- who have experimental on free fourin
oIn ~ the latter gentleman describes this 81
Ouo stance as an elementary body like chlori
surt1 ss possessing bleaching properties. FloursE
oseu the mineral in which this element pre-e
'9ms S:n inently exists, is compound of -four
uiue with lime. Flourine forms compoul
. .s iSS with several bases, and these compoul
= .sure are called fourides; as the fouride
- - a. a. mercury, and the houride of calcium th
- ~ W compounds are, however, very uninter
wing the a~am;nat;on ~ M of &C Hn1roUon .pd ;,s 81
u"ou "U,u pounds. LIGNITE
class e ~