6 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GEORGIA. [292] 



of certain means the two elements can be completely sep- 

 arated. 



Gold, silver, copper and tin are also elements. 

 There are only about sixty-six simple elements known 

 to the chemist. Of these, and their various combinations, 

 all matter, solid, liquid and gaseous, is composed. 



When an element is found occurring naturally, and not 



combined with another, it is said to exist " free in nature." 



Nearly all of the substances composing the vegetable, 



animal, and mineral kingdoms, are combinations of two or 



more elements. 



Matter is indestructible. The apparent destruction of a 

 substance is merely the breaking up of its elements and 

 the formation of new compounds. 



Many of these elements have an attraction or affinity for 

 each other; the rusting of iron is merely the union of iron 

 with oxygen which exists in air and water. Heat, light 

 and electricity aid the union of these elements. 



It has been found that these elements are governed by 

 laws in their union with each other, and that these laws, 

 like those in other departments of nature, are uniform and 

 constant in their operation. 



One of these laws is, that elements always unite with 

 each other in certain proportions by weight and volume ; 

 should there be an excess of one element present, it will 

 remain uncombined. 



The elements are divided into various classes, viz : those 

 which exist as gases only, those which are liquid, and those 

 which are solid. 



Symbols. Each element is designated by a letter, or let- 

 ters, taken from its Latin name. When two letters are 

 used, the first is a capital. Thus, the symbol of iron is 

 Fe. Substances composed of two or more elements are 

 designated by the grouping of the symbols of its different 

 elements. Thus, hydrochloric or muriatic acid is composed 

 of hydrogen and chlorine. The symbol of hydrogen is H., 



