Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-08-13


posted in the soil, near the surface, in South
Carolina and elsewhere, where it is dug up
in the form Of irregular boulders, from few
inches TO foot in diameter Phosphate OF
lime is also found as a rock, called apatite,
and in small quantity as constituent OF
nearly all rocks and soils.
Question--IIow does iron exist in the soil Z
Answer--Sometimes as fragments Of iron
ore, usually an oxyd; sometimes as sui
phate, that is, combined with sulphuric acid,
(sulphate of iron is called copperas) some
times as a sulphide, that is, combined with
sulphur (bi-sulphide of iron is called iron
pyrites or FOOLS gold). Combined with
oxygen and silica it forms the coloring mat
ter of yellow or red soils, clays and ochers.
Question-What is gas
Answer--Matter existing as light lnid,
like air. It is usually colorless and invisi-
BILE, but chlorine gas is greenish. There
are simple and compound gases. A simple
gas consists of but one element. The sim
pie gases named above are oxygen, nitrogen,
hydrogen and chlorine. The compound
are carbonic acid carbon and oxygen) and
ammonia Hydrogen and nitrogen). Carbon
forms portion of every plant. When plant
is burned in free contact with the air Qhe
air is a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen)
the carbon of the plant unites with oxygen
from the air and forms carbonic acid. When
plant is growing it absorbs carbonic acid
(Which is always present in the atmospheric
through its leaves, and by the aid Of sun
light separates the carbon from the oxygen
and uses it as material for growth. When
plants are burned with an insufficient sup.
ply of air, much of the carbon is left uncon.
sumed in the form of charcoal
Ques,ion-What is water
Ansver--A combination of oxygen and
hydrogen gases.
Question-Where does oxygen exist in
the soil
Answer-Tn combination with almost
every other substance of which the soil is
composed, as explained above.
Question does nitrogen exist in
the soil
Answer-In combination with hydrogen
as ammonia in combination with oxygen
as nitric acid. Ammonia and nitric acid
also form compounds Of their own III the soil
Thus, ammonia unites with sulphuric acid,
forming sulphate of ammonia, and with
carbonic acid, forming carbonate of ammo
MIA, while nitric acid unites with potash
soda, lime, and magnesia, forming nitrates
Nitrate of potash is common saltpeter, nj
trate of soda is called soda saltpeter.
Question-Where does hydrogen exist in
the soil
Answer-In combination with oxygen, as
water, and in combination with nitrogen a,
ammonia.
Question--Where does chlorine exist in the
soil
Answer-In combination with sodium
(the metal of soda) as chloride of sodium
Common salD, and also with potassium
(the metal of potash) as chloride of potas
SUM
Question-Where does carbonc acid exist
IN the soil +?
AnsUer-In combination with many sub
stances, such as lime, magnesia, soda, pot
ash, iron and ammonia. These combina
tions are called carbonates.
Question--Where does ammonia exist in
the soil
Answer-In various combinations men
toned above; also free, and in combination
with acids formed by the decay of vegeta-
ton.
Question:" Elements" combinations
aud mixtures have been spoken of above
What are to be understood by these terms
Acknowledgements are the simplest form!
in which matter is found or can be OBJ
tanned, and chemists call all those substances
which they are unable to decompose &C le
mentary." These include all the metals
sulphur, phosphorus, silicon and the simpl,
gases named above. Combinations ar,
chemical unions Of elements, forming dis
tinct compound substances. Mixtures
al z "a VI ciCnCHtS, VI VI
in which CHI ,mical force is not concerned
Thus, the air is a mixture of oxygen aud nit
rogen, while nitric acid (aqua-fortis is com
Jination OF the same gases. Water is a com
bination of oxygen and hydrogen these two
gases may be mixed in the same vessel, ant
remain "a simple mixture until fire is applied
when they combine with an explosion, form
ing water.
QUESTIONABLE have spoken also of "mat
ter and "force !" what are they
Answer--" Matter" is that which ha
weight and bulk. 1t exists in the form o
solids, fluids and gases. "Force" is tn
cause of changes in matter. 1t manifest
itself in motion, aud can be no less than tn
sustaining and creating power of God in ma
ture. Different distinct manifestations o
force are styled heat, light, electricity, vita
ity, affinity, cohesion aud gravtation.