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Ch. 3: Minerals: Chemical Properties

Ch. 3: Minerals: Chemical Properties Page of 515 Ch. 3: Minerals: Chemical Properties Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
106                   A POPULAR TREATISE ON GEMS.
the first order the signs of the two components are con­joined, and the number of atoms or equivalents of each ex­pressed by a number following the sign like an algebraic exponent. Thus, SO, SO2, SO3, are the combinations of one atom sulphur with one, two, and three atoms of oxygen ; FeS, FeS2, of one atom of iron with one or two of sulphur. But as combinations with oxygen and sulphur are very numerous in the mineral kingdom, Berzelius, to whom science is indebted for this system of signs, marks the atoms of oxygen by dots over the, sign of the other element, and those of sulphur by an accent ; the above compounds being then designated thus—and Fe', Fe". In some cases
two atoms of a base combine with three or five of oxygen or sulphur, as A1203, Fe2S3. In such cases Berzelius marks the double atom by a line drawn through the sign of the single atom ; thus,is two atoms aluminium with three of oxygen, or alumina ; ·two of copper with one of oxy­gen, or oxide of copper. Where a number is prefixed to the sign like a coefficient in algebra, it includes both elements of the combination ; thusis one atom water, 2two ; is one atom carbonate of lime, 2two atoms, includ-
ing, of course, two of calcium, two of carbon, and six of oxygen.
The most common and important binary compounds are those with oxygen, contained in the following table, with their signs, atomic numbers, and amount of oxygen in 100 parts. The more electro-negative are named acids, which are often soluble in water, and then render blue vegetable colors red. The more electro-positive are named oxides or bases, and show great affinity or attractive power for the former. The most powerful are the alkaline bases, which are colorless and soluble in water ; less powerful are the earths, also colorless, but insoluble in water :
Ch. 3: Minerals: Chemical Properties Page of 515 Ch. 3: Minerals: Chemical Properties
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