Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-02-04
Elements of Chemistry.

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Oxygen is an invisible, colorless
and tastelcss gas. 1t is found in
nearly everything. When it COM
bines with other elements it evolves
heat and light. Its contained in
rocks, sand, soils and minerals.
One-half the surface of the whole
earth consists Of oxygen. 1t sus-
tains the life of all animal existence.
1t unites with the blood and gener-
ates animal heat. The most easy
way of obtaining this gas is to heat
the chlorate Of potassa in a flask.
Nitrogen is also an invisible coli
orlcss, tasteless gas. Like oxygen,
it occurs in free state in air. 1t
NAV be found in many compounds,
Ordinary air is composed of 20 per
cent. of oxygen and so per cent, of
nitrogen. 1t is found in the flesh
of animals and in gluten, and other
parts of animals and plants. 1t is
an inert substance, while oxygen is
active. 1t does not burn itself, nor
support burning, nor animal life.
Place animals in nitrogen.and they
die. Place them in pure oxygen,
and they live too fast. and burn to
death.
Hydrogen also is an invisible,
colorless, tasteless gas. 1t does not
occur in the free state, but exists
combined with oxygen in water;
It unites with other elements, and
forms valuable compounds. Hydro
is the highest substance known
and is nearly fifteen times lighter
than common air, and so is used
for filling large or small balloons
Chlorine is an element having
very different properties from the
three other gases we have just de-
scribed. 1t has a yellow color, and
a pungent smell, and cannot be
safely inhaled. 1t is not free in ma
ture, but always combined with
some other element Or substance
Common salt containing it. We
can obtain any quantity of 1t
from salt water. Chlorine gas
cannot be breathed without cau'-
ing a cough and inflammation of
the throat. Some substances can
burn not only in oxygen, but also
in chlorine gas. Chlorine has strong
bleaching power, and SO is used
largelyfor taking color out OF cotton
and linen goods.
Sulphur is yellow, solid element,
existing abundantly as a yellow
powder, or in masses. Heat small
bit of it in an iron spoon over a
flame and observe, that it first mclts,
then boils, and finally ignites and
burns away freely, yielding a pale
blue flame. In burning, it unites
with the oxygen of the air, land forms
a colorless gas. On the ends of
matches it readily ignites and lights
the wood. Free sulphur is found
IN volcanic districts, either as a
powder, or as combination with
metals.
Phosphorus is solid element,
not occurring freely in nature, but
combined with oxygen and found in
the bones of animals. Burn bone,
and beneath, a light pourous mass
is left. From this ash, phos-
phorus can be prepared
Silicon is an element not seen
free in nature, but is found in largo
quantities in combination with OK
ygen, and is then known as silica,
and found in sandquartz. All the
rocks and stones otwhich the earth
issmade, contain silicon, or some
metallic element combined with OK
ygen' -,
known as coal. 1t forms a necessa'
ry part of all vegetables and ami
mails. Examine wood, coal and
you can see the form and texture OF
wood. 1t exists combined, not only
in plants and animals, but mingle
with other ingredients of the air.
Carbon also exists in rocks in the
form of carbonates.
Thus the non-metallic bodies are
four gases: oxygen, nitrogen, by
drogen, and chlorine; and the sol.
ids are sulphur, phosphorus. car.
bon, and silicon. We nave now
described eight metallic bodies and
non-metallic. These sixteen ele-
ments are interesting to cultiva-
tors of the soil. because they help
build up all vegetable and animal
structures.