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EXPLANATIONS of some of the terms used m the fore- 

 going sheets, 



ACID, a combination of vital air, with certain elementary 

 substances; such as — ^nitric, sulphuric, muriatic, carbonic, Sec. 

 Acid comprehends all qualities of such combinations, sour- 

 ness and causticity inclusive. 



ALKALI, one of the divisions of salts, comprehending 

 that class of chemical elements, which uniting with acids 

 form perfect neutrals ; in opposition to the salts formed 

 of acids with metals or earths ; -which are called imperfect, 



Carbone, charcoal. 



Dephlogisticated, purified, by being deprived of me- 

 phitic, or phlogisticated, qualities. 



Gas, all aerial fluids, except of common air — The ebuli- 

 tion attending the expulsion of elastic fluids, from substances 

 fermenting, or eff'ervescing. 



Hydrogene, inflammable air. — With this balloons are 

 filled. 



NiTROGENE Gas, Azote, or atmospherical Mephitis, 

 phlogisticated Air; corrupted air, which has served the 

 purposes of combustion, or respiration. 



Oxygene, vital air — the basis of all acids — discovered by 

 Dr. Priestly in 1774. It always exists in combination, and 

 cannot be obtained in purity, without decomposition. The 

 atmospheric air we breathe, has 72 parts of nitrogene gas, 

 and only 28 of oxygene. These modifications are so neces- 

 sary, that without them we could not live. If we were to 

 to respire vital air, in its state of purity, it would quickly 

 consume our life. This virgin air is no more suited to our 

 existence, than distilled water. Chaptal, 82, 84. Thus we 

 see that both plants and animals require combinations ; and d« 

 not exist in, or by, any air totally unmixed. 



