Chap. II.
6-19
position of several minerals, forming phosphates; its combining proportion is said to be 18.Phosphorus combines also with hydrogen ancl sulphur.
Carbon : of tliis the diamond is a specimen in its purest state, but it is usually found incharcoal, prepared from burnt wood ; in ivory black, or animal charcoal; lamp black,or vegetable charcoal; or in plumbago, which is a compound of iron and charcoal. Itis solid, black, porous and brittle, and when heated in air or oxygen produces carbonic acid.It is quite insoluble in water, and destroys the putrescent qualities of both animal and ve-getable matters.
Carbon and Oxygen do not combine at common temperatures, though there are ex-ceptions to this rule in organic bodies.
Carbonic Oxide (gaseous oxide of carbon)-The specific gravity of this gas, compared
with hydrogen, is as 14 to 1, and to atmospheric air, as 0-972 to 1000, 100 cubic inchesweighing 30*2 grains; when burnt with oxygen it produces carbonic acid.
Carbon - - 1 6-42*9
Oxygen - - -1- 8-57-1
1 14 100-0
Carbonic Acid {fixed air ) is gaseous, transparent, and colourless, and absorbed by anequal bulk of water ; it is found to exist in a vast number of minerals, as a Carbonate ,where it is united as a salifiable base, and particularly in lime, magnesia, &c.; it is containedin mineral waters and the atmosphere, and is distributed throughout the globe. Itsspecific gravity is about 1*52, and from its density it may be poured out of one vessel intoanother. As compared with hydrogen it is as 22 to 1 ; and 100 cubic inches weigh 47*25grains, and when subjected to great pressure it becomes liquid, and is then limpid, colour-less, and extremely fluid ; it lias been obtained in a solid form.
Carbon - - - 1 G - 27*27
Oxygen - - 2 - 16 72*73
1 22 100*00
Carbonic acid unites with ammonia, chlorine, iodine, bromine, and hydrogen, and withthe latter forms the several important compounds called the hydrocarbons and hydro-carburcts.
Carbnrettcd Hydrogen, or fire-damp, is a species of hydrocarbon, found in the cavitiesof coal mines, in stagnant pools of water, produced by the decomposition of vegetablematter ; the specific gravity of this gas is 0*555, and compared with hydrogen it is as8 to 1 ; 100 cubic inches weigh from 16 to 17 grains; 100 volumes of this gas require 200of oxygen for its perfect combustion, the result of which is water and 100 volumes of car-bonic acid.
Boron is a deep olive-coloured substance, insoluble in water and infusible; its specificgravity is about 2. Neither air nor water act upon it, but when heated to redness it takesfire, and burns into boracic acid.
Boracic acid is found native among volcanic products, and also in borax.
20
- . 29*41
Oxygen - - 6
48
70*59
1
68
100-00
Fluoride of Boron has a specific gravity of 2*371, andvolume of this gas.
water takes up about 700 times its
20
16
Fluorine - - 6
108
84
—
—
—
1
128
100
Potassium is a white metal of great lustre, but soon
loses its
brightness by exposure to
the air, and is converted into an oxide. Its attraction for oxygen exceeds that of all otherbodies, and in consequence it is the most powerful de-oxidising agent we possess; at ordinarytemperatures it is solid, but becomes partially fluid at 50°, and completely so at 150° ; it islighter than water, and for a moment floats upon it, but soon after its contact it becomesinflamed. .
Protoxide of Potassium , or Potassa, is found combined with many of the earthy minerals,and particularly with mica and felspar
Potassium - - - 1 - 40 - 83 34
Oxygen - - - 1 8 16*66
1
48
100*00