Flux

[Fr., from Lat. flux us, a flowing, from fluere, to flow.] The motion or pa ing of a fluid; as, a flux of water. The moving or pa ing of anything in rapid succe ion. "Languages are in a perpetual fluz ."-Felton. -Concourse; confluence; as, "the flux of company." Shaks . -The flow of the tide, - opposed to reflux. ( Med .) Any preternatural fluid evacuation from the body, but more especially those that proceed from the bowels. It is frequently applied to diarrhea; and dysentery was long known as the bloody-flux. - See DIARRHEA, DYSENTERY. (Chem.) One of those compounds which are used by the chemist either as aids to the fusion of bodies, or as reducing or oxidizing agents. Fluxes may be divided into four cla es - reducing , oxidizing , double decompos ing , and simple fluzes. The most important reducing fluxes are the carbonates of soda and potash (used alone or mixed with charcoal), cyanide of pota ium, and black flux (a compound formed by throwing into a red-hot crucible a mixture of two parts of cream of tartar, and one of water); the nitrates of potash and soda are the principal oxidizing fluxes; and a mixture of three parts carbonate of soda and four of carbonate of potash forms an excellent double-decomposing flux. The simple fluxes act as purifying agents, removing and di olving any mechanical impurity contained in the substance acted upon. Borax, microcosmic salt, and powdered gla are used as simple fluxes. The limestone used in iron-smelting is a good example of a flux. Flux, p. a. To melt; to fuse; to make liquid. Fluxa'tion, n. The act of melting, fusing, or making liquid.