The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

The great drawback in the past has
been the lack of an apparatus to pro-
duce the ozone in the state in which it
is desired.
Ozone has never yet been obtained as
a gas in the pure state, but from the
properties of mixtures containing it we
cannot doubt that gaseous ozone would
be blue in color, and condense at low
temperatures to an indigo blue liquid,
which explOdeS violently on contact
with flame.
The ozone in mixtures, such as are
produced by the identification of air
or oxygen, is very Unstable, being re-
solved into common oxygen with eX-
plosive violence If suddenly compressed
without previous cooling; and even I'M
der atmospheric pressure it cannot
long be preserved except at rather low
temperatures This characteristic in
stability of ozone is at once the cause
of its most interesting properties and
of its possible usefulness
Molecules of common oxygen contain
but two atoms of the element. while
the molecules of ozone contain three
such atoms. and it would seem that the
atoms hold together much less firmly
in the larger molecules than when they
are united in pairs; consequently ozone
acts as a powerful oxidizer, readily
giving up part of its oxygen to oxidiza-
bic substances. while the rest returns
to the ordinary form of the element,
except in certain cases when it is com
pletely absorbed.
The action of ozone would come nm
der the head of what would be called
an oxidizer. Chemists already have. it
Is true, plenty of oxidizerS that can he
used as far as they go with good effect.
Many of these are inexpensive. But not
even hydrogen peroxide, which can now
be obtained comparatively cheaply. is
quite so simple in its action as ozone,
Tor this substance, which consists, as
We have seen. Of oxygen and of oxygen
alone, when used as an oxidizer does
not leave any inconvenient residue such
as accompanies the action of many
other oxidizing agents. Hence. a field
for the employment of ozone may be
found whenever simple oxldizing
agent is required. Thus, for example,
1t has been suggested that it might
conveniently be used for bleaching
beeswax, starch or bones, in the manu-
facture of degras for leather-makers, in
preparing drying oils for the manufac-
turers Of varnishes, or again. according
to Wiedermann, to hasten the aging of
whisky.
Port wine treated with ozone soon
puts on an appearance that under ordi-
nary circumstances it would not &C
Quire in years.
would be to destroy certain cells or ele-
ments and all kinds of bacteria. Much
OF the work that has not been attempt
ed heretofore by the cruder appliances
can now be worked out by the new ap-
paratus.
1t has long been known that ozone
acts as a preservative of flesh, arrest
ing and preventing putrifaction. When
it is obtained in sufficient quantities its
uses in this direction are almost be-
yond estimate.
Ozone. as has already been said. was
first noticed in air which had been ex-
posed to the sparks OF electrical ma
chimes; but only very small quantities
can be obtained in this way, and il is
better to expose the air TO a sort of cleo
tric rain composed Of showers of very
fine sparks. such as were employed by
Andrews, or 10 the so-called silent dis
charge in one of the various forms of
''Siemens' induction tube" This in its
simplest form consists of long thin
test-tube sealed at its open end into a
slightly larger tube, the latter being
provided with a narrow tube at each
end so that a current of gas may be
passed between the two test-tubes. II
the inner tube of such an apparatus be
filled with dilute sulphuric acid and
connected with one Of the electrodes of
an electrical machine. and If the outer
tube be plunged in a bath of dilute acid
which is connected with the other eiec-