The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-03-08
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What is Ozone?

DR.. George Thurber, IN american AgrictlturfSt.
Most persons have, in their read
ing, come across the statement, as IL.
Illustrating the wonders of chemistry,
that the Diamond and Charcoal are
identically the same in composition
However unlike in external appear
ance, they are intrinsically one and
the same thing, being both forms OF
the element Carbon. This is, in a
general way, true, but the statement
would be more striking and nearer to
accuracy if Lsmpblack was named
instead of Charcoal. Carbon exists
not only in these two dissimilar forms,
but in three, the Diamond, Lamp,
black, and Graphite, or black lead,
such as lead pencils are made OF. Car.
bon is by no means the only substance
that is known in very unlike forms.
Sulphur aud phosphorus, for exams
pie, are known in conditions as much
unlike those in which these substan~
ces usually appear, as are the differ-
ent forms of Carbon. We cite these
cases, in which the same substance
exists in unlike forms, in order that we
may the better describe Ozone, which
is an unusual form OF a we'll known sub.
stance. Those who have been near
the spot when some object has been
struck by lightning, have no doubt
noticed a peculiar odor in the vicinity.
This odor is commonly described as
"sulphureous," though it is really very
little like that from burning brim
stone. The same odor may be no.
ticed in room where a powerful cleo
trical machine is operated, and on a
clear, cold night, when the AarOrG
boreahS is visible, a similar odor may
be often observed. No doubt most
of our readers have observed the pecu-
liar odor referred to in one or the
other of these cases, while chemists
have had occasion 10 notice its press
ence in several OF their operations.
That which thus manitests itself by
its odor has received the name OF
Ozone, from The Greek word ito
smell" and careful investigation have
shown that this odor is not due to
new substance, but is produced by the
well known and important element,
oxygen, in peculiar condition. or
state, and differing from ordinary
oxygen IN some such manner as char.
coal or lampblack differs from dia-
mond. Ozone, then, Is oxygen in a
peculiar condition. 1t has not been
separated In a pure state, but is only
known when largely mixed with the
air or with oxygen. Even when it
contains but very small proportion
OF Ozone, air is exceedingly irritating
producing coughing, and to small an
lmals is readily fatal.
The most marked character of
Ozone is It's oxidizing power silver
is metal which does not readily rust
or oXldiee when exposed to the oxy.
gen OF the air, but it is readily oxi>
died IL an atmosphere containing
Ozone, 1t is found that Ozone is an
active bleaching agent, destroying
colonpg matters rapidly, and it at
lacks organic matters of all kinds
that may be present in the atmos-
phere, hence it is regarded as a pow
eriul disintectant. Ozone may be re
garded as most important agent in
nature, concerning which chemists
have learned much, and we may ex-
pect that their Investigations will be
OF great value III the future. This
agent no doubt plays an important
part IN agriculture, and we have yet
10 learn much OF its relations to plant
lite.