mephitic air

mephitic air
Carbonic Car*bon"ic, a. [Cf. F. carbonique. See {Carbon}.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, carbon; as, carbonic oxide. [1913 Webster]

{Carbonic acid} (Chem.), an acid {HO.CO.OH}, not existing separately, which, combined with positive or basic atoms or radicals, forms carbonates. In common language the term is very generally applied to a compound of carbon and oxygen, {CO2}, more correctly called {carbon dioxide}. It is a colorless, heavy, irrespirable gas, extinguishing flame, and when breathed destroys life. It can be reduced to a liquid and solid form by intense pressure. It is produced in the fermentation of liquors, and by the combustion and decomposition of organic substances, or other substances containing carbon. It is formed in the explosion of fire damp in mines, and is hence called {after damp}; it is also know as {choke damp}, and {mephitic air}. Water will absorb its own volume of it, and more than this under pressure, and in this state becomes the common soda water of the shops, and the carbonated water of natural springs. Combined with lime it constitutes limestone, or common marble and chalk. Plants imbibe it for their nutrition and growth, the carbon being retained and the oxygen given out.

{Carbonic oxide} (Chem.), a colorless gas, {CO}, of a light odor, called more correctly {carbon monoxide}. It is almost the only definitely known compound in which carbon seems to be divalent. It is a product of the incomplete combustion of carbon, and is an abundant constituent of water gas. It is fatal to animal life, extinguishes combustion, and burns with a pale blue flame, forming carbon dioxide. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Mephitic air — Mephitic Me*phit ic, Mephitical Me*phit ic*al, a. [L. mephiticus, fr. mephitis mephitis: cf. F. m[ e]phitique.] 1. Tending to destroy life; poisonous; noxious; as, mephitic exhalations; mephitic regions. [1913 Webster] 2. Offensive to the smell;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mephitic air — noun or mephitic gas 1. archaic : carbon dioxide 2. archaic : air exhausted of oxygen and containing chiefly nitrogen …   Useful english dictionary

  • mephitic air — Carbonic acid, carbonic acid gas, foul air, choke damp …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • Mephitic — Me*phit ic, Mephitical Me*phit ic*al, a. [L. mephiticus, fr. mephitis mephitis: cf. F. m[ e]phitique.] 1. Tending to destroy life; poisonous; noxious; as, mephitic exhalations; mephitic regions. [1913 Webster] 2. Offensive to the smell; as,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mephitic gas — noun see mephitic air …   Useful english dictionary

  • Mephitical — Mephitic Me*phit ic, Mephitical Me*phit ic*al, a. [L. mephiticus, fr. mephitis mephitis: cf. F. m[ e]phitique.] 1. Tending to destroy life; poisonous; noxious; as, mephitic exhalations; mephitic regions. [1913 Webster] 2. Offensive to the smell;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • poisonous — poisonous, venomous, virulent, toxic, mephitic, pestilent, pestilential, miasmic, miasmatic, miasmal are comparable when they mean having the properties or the effects of poison (see POISON) Basically poisonous implies that the thing so described …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Thomas Henry — (* 26. Oktober 1734 in Wrexham; † 18. Juni 1816 in Manchester) war ein englischer Apotheker und Chemiker. Thomas Henry Inhaltsverzeich …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Nitrogen — carbon ← nitrogen → oxygen ↑ N ↓ P …   Wikipedia

  • Glossary of ancient Roman religion — This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries. Ancient Roman religion …   Wikipedia

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