216 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Can you enumerate the acids of the first class 1 
The sulphuric and sulphurous acids ; the muriatic 
and oxygenized muriatic acids ; the nitric, the carbo¬ 
nic, the phosphoric and phosphorous, the fluoric, the 
boracic, the arsenic and ersenous, the tungstic, the 
molybdic and molybdous, the telluric and the chromic 
acids. 
Enumerate the acids of the second class ? 
The acetic, the oxalic, the tartaric, the citric, the 
malic, the lactic, the gallic, the mucous, the benzoic, 
the succinic, the camphoric, the suberic, the laccic, 
the prussic, the sebacic, the uric, the amniotic, and 
the fluoboric acids. 
What is the sulphuric acid ? 
The sulphuric acid is a combination of sulphur and 
oxygen. It is commonly called oil of vitroil. 
How is the sulphuric acid obtained ? 
Sulphuric acid is procured by burning sulphur, in 
contact with oxygen; by which process the sulphur 
combines with the oxygen, and becomes acidified. 
If sulphuric acid is nothing more than sulphur and 
oxygen , what is it that occasions its fluidity ? 
Sulphuric acid, at the instant of its formation, is in 
a gaseous state ; therefore the manufacturers find it 
necessary to condense the gas by means of water.— 
Hence the sulphuric aid of commerce is always in a 
fluid state. 
What are the properties* * * * § of sulphuric acid ? 
The sulphuric is a very ponderous, corrosive acid, 
destitute of colour and smell, and has a very strong 
acid taste. It has a great attraction for water,f and, 
when combined with the alkalies, the earths, or the 
metallic oxides, forms with them those salts called 
sulphates. 
What is the sulphurous acid ? 
The sulphurous acid, like the sulphuric, is a com¬ 
bination of sulphur and oxygen, but with less oxy¬ 
gen, or, we may say with more sulphur, than the latter. 
What are the properties of sulphurous acid ? 
Sulphurous acid, in the gaseous state, is invisible, 
like air, but of a strong suffocating smell.;} It is rea¬ 
dily absorbed by water, and then forms liquid sul¬ 
phurous acid. It is capable of uniting with various 
bases, and forms the salts called sulphites. 
What is the muriatic acid ? 
The muriatic is a peculiar acid obtained from sea- 
salt. Until lately, the radical, or base of this acid, 
was entirely unknown. 
What method is m.ade use of to collect and preserve 
the muriatic acid ? 
Muriatic acid is distilled from sea-salt by means of 
sulphuric acid, and collected in appropriate receivers, 
where it is condensed in water, for which it has a very 
powerful affinity. 
What are the properties of muriatic acid ? 
This acid, in the gaseous state, is invisible, like 
air; and has a pungent suffocating smell. With wa¬ 
ter it forms the liquid muriatic acid, which preserves 
the smell of the gas, and gives out white fumes when 
exposed to the atmosphere. This acid is much em¬ 
ployed in the arts, and in chemical laboratories.— 
With various bases it forms the salts called muriates. 
What is the oxymuriatic acid? 
It is now a prevailing opinion, that the oxymuria- 
tic acid, or chlorine, as it is usually called, is a sim¬ 
ple substance, It is known in the gaseous state, and 
in combination with water: but in the latter form it 
is more commonly used in the arts. 
What are the properties of oxymuriatic acid ? 
The oxymuriatic acid gas is so suffocating, that it 
cannot be breathed without great injury ; yet it will 
support combustion. This gas discharges vegetable 
colours ; it burns all the metals,§ and is the only acid 
that will dissolve gold and platina :|| with various al¬ 
kaline and earthy basis it forms salts called hyperoxy- 
muriates. __ 
* When sulphur is combined with a smaller portion of oxy¬ 
gen, it forms a volatile acid of a penetrating smell called sul¬ 
phurous acid; a larger portion of oxygen gives what we call 
sulphuric acid, which on the contrary is very ponderous, and 
destitute of smell. These acids are constituted in the follow¬ 
ing manner:— Sulphurous acid consists of 100 parts of sul¬ 
phur and 100 of oxygen; while sulphuric acid is composed of 
100 parts of sulphur and 150 parts of oxygen. 
f Sulphuric acid and water combine so intimately that the 
compound gives out a large portion of caloric. Four pounds 
of this acid mixed with one pound of water will raise the 
thermometer to 300° of Fahrenheit. 
f Sulphurous acid gas is used by manufacturers in bleach¬ 
ing straw and silk. A slow combustion sulphur is promoted 
in a close chamber, and the goods are exposed to the gas as 
it is produced. Thus, silks, which are dyed by archil of a 
dark lilac, are brought to a beautiful flesh-colour by the fumes 
of this gas. Flesh-coloured silk stockings are also colored in 
this way. 
§ Metals beaten info thin leaves, or reeuced to powder, in¬ 
flame when thrown into a vessel filled with this gas, provid¬ 
ed the temperature be not lower than about 70°, and present 
a kind of shower of fire. 
|| Mr. Humbolt has found that seeds which do not common¬ 
ly germinate in our climates, or in our hothouses, and which, 
of course, we cannot raise for our gardens or hope to natura¬ 
lize in our fields, become capable of germinating when im¬ 
mersed, for some days, in weak solution of oxymuriatic acid. 
This interesting discovery has been turned to advantage in 
tome botanic gardens. 
What other compounds may he formed by means of 
chlorine, or oxymuriatic acid ? 
Chlorine will combine with oxygen, with hydrogen, 
and with nitrogen ; also with carburetted hydrogen, 
and with the carbonic oxide ; some of which combi¬ 
nations possess very curious properties as may be 
seen by reference to the notes. 
Those you have now mentioned are all gaseous sub¬ 
stances : does chlorine form any other combinations l 
By peculiar management chlorine may likewise 
be combined with sulphur, with phosphorous, and with 
the metals, including also the metals of the earths 
and alkalies. 
What effect has chlorine upon charcoal ? 
Chlorine has no action whatever upon charcoal, 
even though the charcoal be intensely hot when 
plunged into it. Some intelligent chemists consider 
this fact to be a decisive proof that chlorine contains 
no oxygen. 
What is nitric acid ? 
Nitric acid is one of the constituent parts of nitre 
or saltpetre. It is a compound of oxygen and nitro¬ 
gen, in the proportion of about 26 parts by weight of 
nitrogen, to 74 of oxygen. 1 * 
How is nitric acid obtained ? 
Nitric acid is obtained by distilling two parts of ni¬ 
tre and one part of sulphuric acid in a glass retort, 
and collecting the fluid in proper receivers.! This 
acid, which at first contains nitrous gas, and is there¬ 
by made of a deep red colour, is in a great measure 
deprived of it, and rendered transparent and colour¬ 
less, by the application of heat in a subsequent pro¬ 
cess. 
What are the properties of nitric acid ? 
Pure nitric acid is clear and colourless, like water; 
its smell is pungent, its taste exceedingly acid, and 
its action on animal substances very corrosive. It 
has the property of permanently staining the skin yel¬ 
low. It has a great affinity for water ; is capable of 
oxidizing most of the metals, and with various bases 
forms the salts called nitrates. 
What constitutes the acid of commerce, called nitrous 
acid ? 
Nitrous acid, improperly so called, is in fact nitric 
acid impregnated with variable portions of nitrous 
acid gas - . 
What are the properties of nitrous acid ? 
Nitrous acid is somewhat similar to nitric acid in 
its properties ; but its colour varies according to the 
proportions of nitrous acid gas which it has absorbed, 
and the water that it contains.;}; 
What is carbonic acid ? 
Carbonic acid is a combination of carbon and oxy¬ 
gen. It was formerly called fixed air, on account of 
its being so intimately combined m chalk, limestone,§ 
magnesia, &c. 
What are the properties of carbonic acid 1 
Carbonic acid is invisible when in the state of gas, 
and unfit for combustion, or respiration. Water, by 
pressure may be made to absorb three times its bulk 
of this gas ; by which it acquires an agreeable acidu¬ 
lous taste. Carbonic acid in the proportion in which 
it exists in atmospheric air is favourable to the growth 
of vegetables, but in a large proportion is highly in¬ 
jurious. This acid enters into combination with the 
alkalies, with earths, and metallic oxides ; and forms 
with them those salts called carbonates. 
What is phosphoric acid ? 
Phosphoric acid is a compound of oxygen and a 
peculiar substance called phosphorus. 
How is phosphoric acid procured ? 
Formerly phosphoric acid was procured only by 
burning phosphorus in oxygen gas; but, since it is 
known that this acid is a component part of animal 
bones,|| we now procure it at a much cheaper rate 
from that source. 
* It is curious that the gases which compose atmosphereic 
air, so necessary to our existence, should, in different propor¬ 
tions, produce also one of the most corrosive acids. 
21 parts by weight of oxygen, 5 
mixed with > form atmospheric air 
79 parts of nitrogen ) 
100 
74 parts of oxygen, when chemically combined and con- 
wilh > densed by water, form nitric acid, 
26 parts of nitrogen, ) or aquafortis. 
100 
Surely none but Deity could have conceived an idea of the 
production of such different susbtances from the same princi¬ 
ples ! 
| The manufactories of this acid are commonly called aqua¬ 
fortis works. The acid is drawn of different strengths, ac¬ 
cording to the purposes for which it is designed. It is used 
in dying, in refining gold, in medicine, and in a great variety 
of manufactories. 
! The changes which take place on the addition of water to 
strong nitrous acid exhibit very curious phenomena. Differ¬ 
ent portions change its colour to a blue, a geeen, a yellow, 
&c. while the vapours which rise from it preserve their ori¬ 
ginal flame coloured red. 
§ Carbonic acid is composed of about 28 parts earbon and 
72 oxygen. . 
|| When animal bones are divested of their oil and jelly, 
the earth which remains is chiefly lime, united with phos- 
What are the properties of phosphoric acid ? 
Phosphoric acid is very soluble in water: the so¬ 
lution is colourless ; it has a strong acid taste :* by 
evaporation the solution becomes very dense and of an 
oily consistence. This acid may by evaporated to 
dryness, and even submitted to a white heat, without 
suffering any change, or being volatilized. It forms 
by its union with earthy, alkaline, and metallic bases, 
that variety of salts which we call phosphates, and 
occurs in nature combined with lime, oxide of lead, 
and other bases. 
What is the phosphorous acid? 
This acid contains a smaller proportion of oxygen 
than the phosphoric acid. It is procured by the slow 
combustion of phosphorus; for when phosphorus is 
heated it burns rapidly, and the product is phospho¬ 
ric acid. 
What are the properties of phosphorous acid ? 
Phosphorous acid is a dense, viscid liquid, with an 
acid taste, and emits the smell of garlic when heat¬ 
ed. This, like the phosphoric acid, may be decom¬ 
posed by charcoal, but cannot he obtained in a con. 
crete state. It has not yet been applied to any use. 
The salts formed with it are called phosphites. 
What is fluoric acid ? 
The fluoric is an acid of a very peculiar nature, 
found in the fluor spar,f which is a natural produc¬ 
tion, composed of fluoric acid and lime. This acid 
is found also nearly in the same proportion in the 
cryolite, a rare mineral brought from West Greenland. 
The topaz likewise contains fluoric acid, though in a 
less proportion. 
What are the properties of fluoric acid ? 
In the state of gas it is invisible like air. Water 
rapidly absorbs it, and forms liquid fluoric acid. It 
has an acid taste, and the peculiar property of cor¬ 
roding silica. With the alkalies and earths it forms 
salts cailed fluates. Though it has been decomposed, 
the nature of its radical is not yet known. 
What is the use of fluoric acid ? 
Fluoric acid has been used for etching upon glass ; 
also in various cases for destroying the polish upon 
glass, so as to render it nearly opake. It appears 
that it was employed for the first named purpose so 
early as in the seventeenth century. 
What is the acetic acid ? 
Acetic acid is principally obtained from saccharine 
liquors which have undergone the vinous formenta- 
tion. 
What are the properties of acetic acid ? 
Acetic acid, as it is usually prepared, is a pleasant 
yellow liquor, well known. When distilled it is as 
colourless as water, and of an agreeable odour. In 
both states it is known in commerce by the name of 
vinegar. 
How is the concentrated acetic acid, or radical vine¬ 
gar as it is sometimes called prepared? 
Concentrated acetic acid is obtained from acetate 
of copper, acetate of soda, or acetate of potash, by 
decomposing either of them by means of sulphuric 
acid, and then distilling the product. 
What are the properties of acetic acid in this state of 
concentration ? 
Acetic acid thus prepared is very pungent, acrid 
phoric acid, and this phosphate of lime is often employed 
for the preparation of the medicinal salt called phosphate of 
soda. But Mons. Chaptal jun. son of the Count Chaptal, 
employs bones in Paris, as I am informed, in a very differ¬ 
ent manner. Having a large establishment for the prepara¬ 
tion of soda, in which process a larger quantity of muriatic 
acid is afforded than can be consumed in the ordinary way, 
he employs persons to collect bones from all parts of the city, 
and digests them in this spare muriatic acid. The acid dis- 
selves the phosphate of lime and leaves the gelatine. The 
latter is made into soup, and sold in every district in Paris. 
It is worthy of notice, that phosphate of lime is found in 
abundance also in milk. This seems to indicate, as Fourcroy 
beautifully remarks, “ that Nature thought fit to place in the 
first nourishment of animals a quantity of osseous matter, 
with a view to the necessary celerity of the formation and 
growth of the bones in the earliest stage of their lives.”— 
This fact is probably unknown to some who study natural 
history, and is one of the numerous instances of the benefi¬ 
cence of the Creator, exemplified by the science of chemis¬ 
try. The more we know of the minutiee of matter, and of 
the laws by which it is governed, the greater occasion shall 
we have to admire the excellence of contrivance and the be¬ 
nevolence of intention of the Omnipotent Artificer. Let the 
advocates for chance consider the aforesaid fact, and say, if 
they can, that phosphate of lime is found in animal milk, in 
consequence of fatality, and that it occurs by accident where 
it performs so important an office in the animal economy. It 
is also a remarkable fact, that the nearer the female approaches 
to the period of parturition the more is the milk charged 
with this calcareous phosphate; and that it is not till the di¬ 
gestive organs of the infant are sufficiently strengthened to 
answer the purposes and the work of animalization, that this 
earthy salt disappears from the milk of the mother. 
* Pure phosphoric acid obtained, without the addition of 
water, by burning phosphorus in oxygen gas, has the form of 
white, snowy, light flocks, of a very strong acid taste. By 
exposure to the air it att racts humidity, and becomes a fluid 
acid. One hundred parts of dry phosphoric acid consist of 
about 46J phosphorus and 53J oxygen. 
f Fluor spar is found in many parts of Europe, particular¬ 
ly in Derbyshire. It is employed in the manufacture of or¬ 
namental vases, &c. It is constituted of about 67 per cent, 
of lime and 33 of fluoric acid. 
