phorus was burned, you observe it to be tion been a corrosive powder, it would pervaded with snow-white particles, which, soon have killed us by penetrating into gradually depositing on the sides of the our lungs. jar, cover it with a crust, and which, by “ The results of useful ordinary combusfalling into the water, dissolve and dis- tion could not then have been different to appear.

what they are without disturbing the whole "But the result of combustion is most economy of the world ; so beautifully have strikingly exemplified in the jar, where all these things been calculated and prothe iron-wire was burned. There, instead vided for, so wisely have all consequences of a gas, or a vapour, or a powder in dis- been foreseen by an all-wise Creator. tributed particles, little fused beads are “ Of course, when the result of burning a seen, to the existence of which I have substance is a liquid or gas, there must already directed your attention. They are be more difficulty in collecting this result, 1ot iron, nor, if you come to regard them in catching it, so to speak, storing it up ittentively, do they look like iron. All and examining it, than when the result is he metallic splendour of the original a solid. For this reason it was that tire is gone, and the little beads look chemists in bygone time actually consiery much like the black scales which dered that bodies burned were bodies over an iron - bar when taken from a destroyed. Had they been accustomed to lowing blacksmith's forge. They are, weigh the substances which they experiadeed, the very same.

And now for a mented upon, and likewise to weigh the urious circumstance. These fused beads, results, this opinion could not have been omposed of oxygen and iron, therefore long entertained; but the operation of rmed oxide of iron, if collected and weighing, which we modern chemists eighed, would be found to be heavier think so essential, ancient chemists han the original iron consumed by the neglected altogether; and see what a xact amount of oxygen which has dis- beautiful truth they lost by this same ppeared. Thus you see the result of neglect; the true principle regulating urning a combustible body may be a gas, the combustion of bodies was totally vapour--may be a powder, may be unknown to them.

Generally, and most fortu- “ Well, time admonishes me to be brief ately, as we shall hereafter discover, all with this element, oxygen,--admonishes le ordinary combustibles do not yield me to pass on to the consideration of other olids or powders when they are burned, subjects. Proceeding, therefore, with our ut gases or vapours; and, consider what investigations, it is very natural for us to

fortunate circumstance this is. Sup- try to discover, and I am sure you would jose, for instance, a candle so constituted, like to know, since oxygen is the virtue, is it might have been-consider it so con- the power of atmospheric air, what the tituted, that, instead of the results of its other part of atmospheric air consists of. ombustion consisting of invisible gases I did not introduce oxygen to you for a r vapours, floating away in the passing air, long time by name, but went on describing pidly, insensibly-suppose the results quality after quality; now I shall follow the f its combustion had been a powder, opposite plan with its associate, and term it uch as phosphorus yields - powder nitrogen at once. Some chemists term it hich is intensely sour and almost corrosive azote, meaning the life destroyer ; but there -suppose that, like iron, it had yielded a are many other gases equally capable of blid, -what, then, would have been the destroying life, although none else are onsequence ? Why, it is terrible to capable, when united with oxygen and eflect

the necessary result of potash in a particular way, of forming the uch an alteration. We could not have substance nitre; therefore, surely the term sed candles of this kind. Had the re- nitrogen which expresses this quality, is ult of their combustion been solid, not only more appropriate of the two. How shall we ould their light have been too feeble for generate nitrogen ? Think a little, and I le purposes of useful illumination, but we am sure the principle will occur to you. hould soon have become enveloped in If the air consists of oxygen and nitrogen, shes. Had the result of their combus- and if oxygen alone is burned away by

solid mass.

on

66

water.

combustion, is it not evident that nitrogen, in itself, is possessed of the most extraor. mixed with the product of combustion, dinary powers. must remain ? On this principle we obtain • Very few elements, perhaps, can dis. nitrogen, and the mode of obtaining it as play such numerous qualities--can do, as follows :

we may term it, so many different things “An empty bell glass, as in ordinary as nitrogen can. In certain proportions

language we should it can associate itself with oxygen, and call it, that is to say, constitute the atmosphere we breathe a bell glass contain. whilst, in other proportions, the very same ing atinospheric air, elements generate, by their union, the is inverted over a lit- powerful corrosive liquid, called aquafortis. tle flame, containing Is not this extraordinary? We all know ignited phosphorus, how bland, how innocent, how harmless is

and placed swimming atmospheric air, how it bathes our skin, Fig. 27.

on the surface of some and pervades our lungs, although we are

The phos- scarcely conscious of its presence ; conphorus burns as usual, and in the opera- sider, then, what the effect would have tion of burning removes the whole of the been had we been surrounded with aqua. oxygen present, combining with it and fortis ! If you are engaged much in forming these white, flocculent, particles, chemical experiments, you will, as the which, perhaps, you may remember as being chances are, soon have evidences of its composed of phosphoric acid, and which corrosive action on your fingers and dress may easily be removed by agitation with One does not, however, purposely seek for water. This being done, nitrogen remains. this evidence, for which reason, I find a Nitrogen is, altogether, a very peculiar substitute in a sheet of dry parchment. body. I can show an experiment illus. Upon this I pour a few drops of nitric trative of its power, as I did with oxygen. acid (aquafortis), and you see the result. All I shall show you is an experiment The parchment becomes yellow and shri. which you will perhaps say, shows nothing velled, crumpling up, smoking and evenat all, although, it is an experiment which | tually it is destroyed.” really shows a great deal. In the first place, And here we must conclude our preyou see it will not allow the combustion sent sketch, leaving the subject of atof a taper immersed in it to proceed, but mospheric air to be again adverted to immediately puts out the flame. In this hereafter. it does not differ from the gas developed by burning charcoal in oxygen ; therefore, Fix your Mind.-Lay it down as : for anything we know at present to the sound maxim :-Nothing can be accomcontrary, they may both be the same. We plished without a fixed purpose—a con. shall soon prove, however, that they are centration of mind and energy. Whatever not the same, because, if I throw a portion you attempt to do, whether it be the writing of lime water, perfectly clear and trans- of an essay, or whittling of a stick, let it parent, into the jar in which the charcoal be done as you can do it. It was this was burned, and shake the whole together, habit that made Franklin and Newton, and the lime-water turns white ; whereas, if I hundreds whose labours have been of indo the same with nitrogen gas, no white calculable service to mankind. Fix your ness results. By this simple test, then, may mind closely and intently on what you we distinguish these two invisible gases. undertake ; in no other way can you

hare “ If this is the only thing nitrogen can a reasonable hope of success. An energ! do, you may, perhaps, say with yourselves, that dies in a day is good for nothing; an If it can only not whiten Jime-water-hour's fixed attention will never avail. The this nitrogen must be altogether a power- inventions that bless mankind were not less substance, and its glorious associate, the result of a few moments' thought and oxygen, is called the virtue of atmospheric investigation. If you, then, have a desire air to some purpose. Arrive at no such to bless your species, or to get to yourself rash conclusion ; it would be very wrong. a glorious name, fix your mind upon someNitrogen, although seemingly powerless thing, and let it remain fixed.

THE EDITOR AND HIS FRIENDS.

[APPENDIX.]

Editor's Address :-London, 69, Fleet-street. The Editor of “The Family Friend."

IN commencing the Third Volume of our New SERIES, let us as usual impress upon our Friends that our Appendix is devoted not merely to Editorial answers to Questions put by Correspondents, but to useful Facts, Hints, and Suggestions, supplied by Correspondents themselves, -as Friends of our great Family. We cannot too highly prize the many useful treasures communicated to our first Series by numerous co-operators, and we earnestly invite not only a continuance but an increase of this friendly feeling, which prompts the possessor of any useful and practical information to publish it through our pages for the benefit of others.

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