OXISELS

are salts, consisting of oxygenated acids and oxides, to distinguish them from the HALOSELS , which are salts consisting of one of the archæal elements; such as chlorine, iodine, bromine, . combined with metals. See Salt . OXYGEN (Oxigène , Fr.; Sauerstoff , Germ.); is a body which can be examined only in the gaseous form; for which purpose it is most conveniently obtained in a pure state by exposing chlorate of potash, or red oxide of mercury, in a gla retort, or recurved tube, to the heat of a spirit lamp; 100 grains of the salt yield 115 cubic inches of gas. One pound of nitre, ignited in an iron retort, gives out about 1200 cubic inches of oxygen, mixed with a little nitrogen. The peroxide of manganese also affords it, either by ignition alone in an iron or earthen retort, or by a lamp heat in a gla retort, when mixed with sulphuric acid. Oxygen is void of taste, colour, and smell. It po e es all the mechanical properties of the atmosphere. Its specific gravity is 1·1026 compared to air 1·0000; whence 100 cubic inches of it weigh 33·85 grains. Combustibles, even iron and diamonds, once kindled, burn in it most splendidly. It forms 21 parts in 100 by volume of air, being the constituent e ential to the atmospheric functions of supporting animal and vegetable life, as well as flame. The full development of this subject in its multifarious relations, will be discu ed in my forthcoming new system of chemistry. Oxygenated-Muriatic , and Oxy muriatic , are the names originally given by the French chemists, from false theoretical notions, to chlorine, which Sir H. Davy proved to be an unde compounded substance. p.