OXYGEN. 189 



drical body of about an inch in diameter.* By these means, the wire 

 is easily made to assume the form of a spiral. Near the end of the 

 spiral, wind it about a piece of spunk about as large as a pin. Hav- 

 ing lighted the spunk, remove the cover from the aperture in the lid 

 of the vessel, and lower the end of the wire to which the spunk may 

 be attached, into the oxygen gas. The access of the oxygen causes 

 the spunk to be ignited so vividly, that the wire takes fire and burns 

 with great splendor, forming a brilliant liquid globule, which scintil- 

 lates beautifully. This globule is so intensely hot, that sometimes on 

 falling, it cannot immediately sink into the water ; but leaps about on 

 the surface, in consequence of the steam which it causes the water 

 to emit. If it be thrown against the glass of the containing vessel, 

 it usually fuses it without causing a fracture, and has been known to 

 pass through the glass, producing a perforation without any other 

 injury." 



(g.) A stream of oxygen gas from a gazometer and blowpipe, di- 

 rected upon burning charcoal, melts and burns many bodies, as iron, 

 copper and tin, with brilliant appearances, and the evolution of much 

 heat. 



(H.) EFFECT OF THE COMBUSTION. 



The oxygen gas is diminished ; its ponderable part combines with 

 the combustible body, and both changes its properties and increases its 

 weight; one grain being gained in weight for every three cubic 

 inches of gas absorbed. Combustibles, which like oil, candles, and 

 charcoal, disappear while burning, are not destroyed ; they have only 

 passed off in gas, and other diffused forms ; with proper care, all 

 the products can be collected again ; we can neither create nor an- 

 nihilate an atom. 



(i.) Products of the combination. They are either acids, alkalies, 

 oxides or earths ; the three last may strictly be included under one 

 head, but it is convenient to divide them. The process of combin- 

 ing with oxygen, is called oxidation or oxidizement, and the corres- 

 ponding verb is oxidate or oxidize.-^ The oxides are sometimes dis- 

 tinguished by terms derived from their colors, but Dr. Thomson has 

 introduced a nomenclature founded on the Greek numerals, as pro- 

 toxide, deutoxide, tritoxide, viz. first, second, and third oxide, &c. 

 and Jperoxide, for the oxide with the most oxygen. 



(j.) Water, at the pressure of 30 inches, and temperature 60, if 

 freed from air by boiling, absorbs 3.5 cubic inches of oxygen gas, 

 for every 100 cubic inches of water; by pressure, the quantity is in- 



* I use a ram rod and binding wire. 



t Some use oxygenize or oxygenate, oxygenizement or oxygenation ; these terms 

 are rather more genera), and do not decide whether the product is an oxide or an 

 acid. t From the Latin preposition. 



