190 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



to its nature ; and it is now commonly regarded, according to Sclion- 

 bein's theory, as oxygen in a state of tension or negative polarity. 

 In accordance with this theory, it has been proved that oxygen exists 

 ( also in the opposite position of positive polarity, or antozone. Not 

 that antozone has ever yet been isolated ; the nearest approach to its 

 isolation is found in peroxide of hydrogen ; its existence is only in- 

 ferred from the result of certain experiments. If peroxide of hydro- 

 gen be added to a solution of permanganate of potash, both the 

 peroxides are destroyed, i. e.\ deoxidized, with a large escape of ordi- 

 nary oxygen an experiment which can only be explained by 

 assuming that the excess of oxygen in the one peroxide is in an 

 opposite condition of polarity from that in the other, and that they 

 combine to neutralize each other. On this view peroxides are divisi- 

 ble into two classes : the peroxides of hydrogen, the alkalies, and 

 alkaline earths containing antozone ; those of the metals, as manga- 

 nese, lead, cobalt, nickel, and others, ozone. Now, whether, under 

 all circumstances, the generation of ozone is necessarily accompanied 

 by that of antozone, is, as yet, unproved ; but there are many facts 

 which render it highly probable. Only a very small proportion of 

 air or oxygen operated on can ever be ozonized (it is estimated at 

 not more than Y^-th), probably because it is constantly tending to 

 its own destruction, by reuniting with the antozone. Certainly the 

 action of phosphorus, in the ordinary mode of obtaining ozone, is not 

 limited to its production. Nitric acid is always produced. The water 

 in the vessel has a slight bleaching power (due, probably, to the 

 presence of antozone, to the constant production of which, at least, 

 of peroxide of hydrogen, chlorine owes its bleaching power) ; and 

 the phosphorus itself becomes changed, as in two sticks used in my 

 experiments, which are completely covered with a black coating of 

 amorphous phosphorus. May not this change be referred to a kind 

 of polarity taking place in the phosphorus simultaneously with that 

 in the oxygen ? amorphous phosphorus bearing probably the same 

 relation to ordinary phosphorus that ozone bears to oxygen. 



The ordinary action of ozone is one of energetic oxidation. In 

 spite of the small proportion of ozone present, iodine or chlorine is 

 readily set free from its combinations ; silver leaf is converted into 

 oxide of silver ; even mercury is superficially oxidized ; the white 

 oxide of lead is converted into the brown peroxide ; and certain 

 noxious gases, as sulphuretted hydrogen, are completely destroyed, 

 as may be readily shown by suspending in ozone a paper black with 

 sulphide of lead ; it is rapidly bleached, by conversion into the sul- 

 phate. Ozone, therefore, is the great natural scavenger of the air. 

 Hence it is always most abundant where there is least impurity in 

 the air. In mountainous regions, and by the sea, with a sea wind, 

 it is abundant; whereas near large towns, where the wind has 

 passed over the town, it is wanting. Nevertheless, the relation of 

 the presence and abundance of ozone to the presence of certain 

 impurities in the air, especially in relation to the presence of the 

 materies morbi of epidemics, is enveloped hitherto in difficulties and 

 uncertainty ; due partly, I think, tto the insufficiency of the ordinary 

 test of ozone, which may be affected by many gases, necessarily 

 present in the air of large towns (as sulphurous or nitrous acids). 



