WATER. 209 



acids. They may also be regarded as salts, of which 

 oxide of hydrogen or water is the base. 



What is said 516. RELATIONS TO LIFE. Water forms, 



feiatioLfo US by far ' the S reater P art of a11 animal and 

 life? vegetable matter, as will be more fully 



seen in the portion of this work which treats of or- 

 ganic chemistry. To water, the leaf of the vegetable 

 and the muscle of the animal, owe, in a great degree, 

 their pliancy and freedom of motion. In view of these 

 and other relations to life, the negative properties of 

 water are not the least important. Had it taste, 01 

 odor, however exquisite, we should soon weary of them. 

 And but for its mild and neutral character, it would 

 irritate the delicate nerves and fibres which it bathes. 

 517. At very high temperatures the va- 



Whnt is the J 



effect of water por of water decomposes many minerals, 

 rature k sf mp ' and ex P els stron g acids from their com- 

 pounds. Under the stimulating influence 

 of heat, this neutral liquid becomes a chemical agent 

 of extreme energy. Such decompositions as are here 

 referred to, are without doubt, constantly going on be- 

 neath the surface of the earth. 



COMPOUNDS OF HYDROGEN, WITH CHLORINE, BROMINE, 

 IODINE, FLUORINE, AND SULPHUR. 



Under this head are to be described a new series of 

 acids, distinguished by the absence of oxygen from all 

 which have hitherto been mentioned The molecules 

 of each, like those of water, are composed of single 

 atoms of their constituents. 



