Rural chemistry: an elementary introduction to the study of the science in its relation to agriculture / [Edward Solly].

  • Solly, Edward, 1819-1886
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Rural chemistry: an elementary introduction to the study of the science in its relation to agriculture / [Edward Solly]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    for it is, in fact, of very great importance, as we shall hereafter see. In the experiment just mentioned of burning the candle in a large bottle, the oxygen is all combined with the elements of the tallow, for which they have a strong affinity, whilst the nitrogen is left unchanged because it cannot combine with them ; for the same reason also, it puts out a fresh lighted candle plunged into it. 28. Oxygen, when obtained pure, and separate from any other substance, is a gas like common air in its ordinary characters, but remarkable for the very brilliant manner in which all kinds of combustible matter burn in it. Oxygen may be breathed with safety, but it causes all the functions of the animal system to be carried on with great vigour and rapidity, so much so, that an animal breathing pure oxygen would be soon destroyed, from the very powerful effect which the gas would have on its organs. Oxygen has a strong affinity for most of the other elements, and combines with them to form a numerous and important series of compounds. 29. Nitrogen, though it resembles oxygen in appear¬ ance, yet differs from it very remarkably in chemical characters ; it extinguishes flame, and cannot support the combustion of any substance ; it is irrespirable, suffocating animals if they attempt to breathe it pure, and seeming to have very little affinity for other elements; at least under ordinary circumstances, it shows very little tendency to combine with them ; under particular circumstances, however, it does form compounds, (147, 163) and some of them are very curious and important. Common air