A C I 
ACL 
If 
body possesses the properties of an acid unless 
it contains oxygen. Sulphurated hydrogen, 
for instance, possesses all the characters of an 
acid, yet it contains no oxygen. 
3. When it is said that oxygen is the acidi- 
fying priniple, it cannot be meant to affirm 
that the combination of oxygen with bodies 
produces in all cases an acid, or that whenever 
abody is combined with oxygen the product 
is an acid ; for the contrary is known to every 
chemist. Hydrogen, for instance, when com- 
bined with oxygen, forms not an acid, but 
pure water, and" the greater number of metallic 
bodies form only oxides. 
All that can be meant, then, when it is said 
that oxygen is the acidifying principle, is 
merely that it exists as a component part in 
the greater number ef acids ; and that many 
acids are formed by combustion, or by some 
equivalent process. The truth is, that the 
class of acids is altogether arbitrary ; formed 
when the greater number of the bodies arrang- 
ed under it were unknown, and before any 
precise notion of what ought to constitute the 
characteristic marks of an acid had been 
thought of. New bodies, when they were 
discovered, if they possessed any properties 
analogous to the known acids, were referred 
without scruple to the same class, how much 
soever they differed from them in other par- 
ticulars. Hence we find, under the head of 
acids, bodies which have scarcely a single pro- 
perty in common except that of combining 
with alkalies and earths. 
From what has been stated, however, it 
follows, that the acids are compound bodies, 
and almost all of them formed by the union of 
some other substance with oxygen : this sub- 
stance is called the base, or radical. In some 
cases the radical has never been found in a se- 
parate state, when it is said to be unknoivn. 
See Acidifiable base. 
A C O 
AC'NIDA, Virginian hemp, a genus of tire 
dioecia class, and pentandria order of plants. 
The characters are : in the male, the calyx is a 
perianthium consisting of five leaves, ovate, 
concave, acute, and membranous on the mar- 
gin. No corolla. The stamina consist of five 
very short capillary filaments ; the antherae are 
versatile, two-celled, and forked at both ends. 
Female on a separate plant, of which the calyx 
consists of an involucrum many-leaved, linear, 
and deciduous ; and a perianthium two-leaved, 
very small, and persistent. No corolla. Tlie 
pistillum has an ovate germen ; the styli are 
live, long, reflected, and downy ; the stigmata 
are simple. The pericarpium is an egg-shaped 
fruit, compressed, many angled, sulcated, and 
covered with a succulent calyx. The seed is 
solitary, round, and compressed. There is 
only one species of it, viz. the acnida canni- 
bina. It is a native of Virginia, but rarely 
cultivated in Europe, except for the sake of 
variety. It has little beauty, and at present 
is. applied to no useful purpose. 
ACNUA, a measure of land, among the 
antient Romans, containing about a quarter of 
an acre. 
ACOEMETI, a kind of antient monks, 
who performed divine worship night and day 
in tiieir churches. They divided themselves 
into three classes, each of which officiated in 
their turn, and relieved others, so that their 
churches were never silent, night or day. 
ACOLUTHI, or Acolythi, denote can- 
didates for the ministry, so called from their 
continually attending the bishop. It is a tern 
applied to persons who are stedfast and im- 
moveable in their resolutions. 
Acoluthi, is used for the body-guards 
who attended the emperors of Constantinople. 
Acoluthi, is also an appellation given to 
the stoics, on account of their steady adhe- 
rence to what they had once resolved. 
ACOLYTHIA, in the Greek church, de- 
notes either the order of divine service, or the 
book containing it. 
ACON, an instrument used in antient exer- 
cises, like the dircus ; a name likewise given to 
an antient order of knighthood. 
ACONITE an appellation given to some of 
the antient athletce, who anointed their bodies 
with oil, instead of covering them with dust; 
or who overcame their antagonists with case. 
ACONITON, signifies not plaistered, and 
is a name applied to vessels not lined within. 
AC ON ITU M, wolfsbane, or monks-hood, 
a genus of plants of the class and order poly-* 
andria trigynia. The essential character is, 
calyx none ; petals five, the highest arched ; 
nectaries two, peduncled, recurved capsules, 
three or five. 
Nine species, all hardy herbaceous peren-*- 
nials, are enumerated of this genus, which has 
received the name of monks-hood from its 
flower, being composed of five irregular petals, 
resembling in some measure a man’s head? 
with a helmet or hood on it. The upper petal 
represents tlie hood or helmet ; the two lower 
ones stand for that part which covers the lower 
jaw ; and the two wings seem adapted for co- 
vering the temples. From the centre of the 
flower, there arise two pistils, resembling feet, 
and received into the hollow of the upper pe- 
tal, or hood as is also another pistil, which/ 
finally becomes a fruit, composed of several* 
membranaceous vagina? collected into a head, 
and usually containing angular and wrink-leti 
seeds. 
The acids as combined with oxygen may be 
States of Oxygenation, according as the 
arranged as follows: 
compound contains less or more oxi/gen. 
With simple 
radicals. 
Bases. 
Sulphur 
Azote 
Phosphorus 
Carbon 
Arsenic 
Mdlylxlena 
Chrome 
t — 
1st. 
Sulphureous 
Nitrous 
Piiosphoreous 
Arsenious 
f Acetous 
Carbon and 
With double J hydrogen in 
radicals. ' different pro- < 
portions 
e Carbon, 
With triple ' H ydrogen. 
radio; 
and 
Azote. 
:als. \ a 
( i 
With un- C 
inown radi- < 
:als. f 
See Chemistry. 
ACIDIFIABLE base, or Radical, is any 
iubstance, whether simple or compound, that 
S capable of uniting without decomposition, 
,vith such a quantity of oxygen as to become 
jossessed of acid properties. Almost all the acids 
igree with each pther in containing oxygen, 
out they differ in their radicals ; of course the 
icidifiabie base or radical determines the spe- 
cies of acid. Sulphur combined with oxygen 
brms sulphuric or vitriolic acid. Almost all 
iubstances will combine with oxygen, but 
:hey are not all acidifiable bases. That the 
process of acidification may take place, a large 
proportion of oxygen is necessary, otherwise 
he result is only an oxyd. See Chemistry. 
ACIDOTUM, a genus of the monaecia po- 
y andria class and order. The essential eha- 
:actev is: male, calyx five-leaved; corolla 
lone ; stamina fixed to a globular receptacle, 
peniale, calyx six-leaved ; corolla none ; style 
•rifid ; capsule three grained.. One species only 
s noted of this plant, which is a native of Ja- 
maica. But of its. qualities little seems to be 
mown. 
AClD.ULrE, a, term used’ for the cold.mi- 
2d. 
Sulphuric 
Nitric 
Phosphoric 
Carbonic 
Arsenic 
Molybdic 
Chromic 
Acetic 
Tartaric 
Citric 
Oxalic 
Malic 
Gallic 
Benzoic 
Succinic 
Saccholactic 
Formic 
Sebacic 
Prussic 
Litliic 
Muriatic 
Fluoric 
Boracic. 
3d. 
Oxymuriatic 
neral waters, distinguished by their sparkling 
appearance when poured from one vessel to 
another, and by their brisk acidulous taste. 
They contain a considerable quantity of free 
carbonic acid. 
ACIDULUM, a term to express a kind of 
native compound salts, in which the alkaline 
base is supersaturated with acid ; these are 
employed in chemical processes, and for eco- 
nomical purposes as acids. The two species 
already known are, the tartareous acidulum or 
acidulous tartrite of potash ; and the oxalic aci- 
dulum, or acidulous oxalat of potash. 
ACINACES, a kind of cutlas, or sc Line tar, 
in use among the Persians. 
ACINUS, a name given to grapes or ber- 
ries growing in clusters, in opposition to bac- 
ca;, or such berries as grow single. 
ACLIDES, in Roman antiquity, a kind of 
missive weapon, with a thong fixed to it, 
whereby it might be drawn back again. 
Most authors describe the aclidcs, as a sort 
of dart or javelin ; but Scaliger makes it round*- 
islg or globular, with; a wooden stem to poise 
it by. 
