Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-05-21
NATTER.
or CIassIncatiOn upon the Basis Of
Density.

No III.
[Contnued from the Record and Farmer.l
In their division of matter into four classes,
philosophers found less difficulty than in fix
ing bounds to geological periods, or in class
flying the rocks that glide by insensble gra-
dations into each other and sometimes con-
fuse the most critical mineralogist A few
connecting links, intermediate between the
grand divisions, some formed by art, others
of natural origin, are of too little signif-
cance to disturb these natural divisions, or
confuse him who seeks to arrange and classi-
fly material objects. 1t was upon the basis
of density that Archimedes, engaged upon
problem for the king of Syracuse who be-
leved himself to have been defrauded by the
workmen in the construction of a crown, ac-
cidentally discovered the art Of determining
the specific gravity Of bodies, and thus solved
the kings problem.
/. .So6ds. The difference between deuse
and rare bodies arises from the different de-
grees of intensity by which their particles are
bound together, and, hence. in many cases,
the proximity of their particles. This attrac-
tive power is weak in water, and still weaker
in air; it is strong in wood, and still strong
er in iron. The particles OF granite or
a gness rock are held together by a cohesive
power Of such intensity that a hard blow on
ly will break them If reduced to sand CO.
hesion between the particles is destroyed
yet each particle is still bound together by
the cohesive attraction Of its atoms, and has
lost none Of the characteristics of solid mat
ter. Heat of sufficient intensity will now
bring the particles within the sphere of each
others attraction 10y reducing them to liq-
uid, but upon cooling the rock resumes its
place in the class Of solids And there can
hardly be a doubt that a still greater degree
of heat, but at present beyond the art of
man to produce. would reduce all solid mat
ter-rocks, metals and organic substances
to the gaseous state, with little more density
than some gases already well known. This
class of matter being characterized by firm
ness, density and resistance to impression
like stone or wood, not yielding to gravity
upon the least inclination like water, or to
slight degrees of heat like wax is so well de- :
fined that the novice is in little danger of er-
ror in making his arrangement
Viscids Formerly, Matter was arranged
in three classes, solids, liquids and gases
But it was found that this arrangement was
not sufficiently comprehensive to embrace a
few intermediate substances between solids
and liquids as tar, wax and gums and now,
writer's very generally and with reason, speak
of such substances under the name of vscids
These are reducble to liquids, either by
slight degrees of heat, or by solution.
3. Liquids. This division embraces such
bodies as water and wine, that have much
greater specific gravity than air, but are held
together by so slight cohesive attraction
that they yield to gravitation at the least op-
portunity, and to the slightest pressure
The terms liquid and fluid should not be u.s.
ed promiscuously. The word fluid is gen
eric term, and not only embraces water. wine
and all other liquids it also embraces air
and its elementary gases indeed it is COM
prehensive enough to embrace all Matter not
included under the terms solids and viscids.
But we cannot with propriety speak of air
and other gaseous bodies rs liquids.
I. GASES. No less important and interest
ing, though invisible, are those subtle bodies
embraced under the term gas, or airiform
fnid, and distributed throughout and around
the earth, so that not a solid, a viscid or a
liquid exists that does not contain one or
more of them. 1t is remarkable that a sub
stance of the levitation of oxygen gas should
compose so large part of the solids we
everywhere behold. 1t is imprisoned in the
rocks, nearly one half of their weight being
oxygen it constitutes more than one half of
all animals and plants it is a constituent of
the soil it constitutes SO of our rivers and
lakes, and 81 per cent of the atmosphere.
1t is an element of acids and in combination
with metals forms large class of compounds
known as oxides. Its weight compared with
air is about as II to 10.
Hydrogen, the lghtest known gas, being
li{ times lighter than air, enters into all ami
NAL and vegetable substances. but in less pro-
portion than oxygen. 1t forms 10 by weight
of water but with the exception of coal it is
not found in the mineral masses that form
the earth's crust.
Nitrogen constitutes 70 per cent of the at
mosphere, forms a part of all animal bodies,
and plants used for food traces of it are
found in the coal fields but it does not, like
oxygen, enter into the minerals of the globe
so far as is known.
Carbonic acid is a compound consisting of
carbon and oxygen, and mingled with the air
in the proportion of l-25OO part of its bulk,
and indispensable to the growth of plants.
In this diluted state it is not hurtful to
breathe but when breathod alone it destroys
life in two minutes.
Vapor, strictly speaking, is not gas it is
water expanded 100 times. Yet it must be
classed with gaseous Matter, on account of its
extreme tenuity and total want of resemb-
lance to solids, viscids or liquids.
Wilmington, VT SEC.