2. A contrivance for causing a current of air to impinge on the flame
of the Argand lamp; -- called also oxygenator.
<! p. 1027 !>
Ox"ide (?), n. [F. oxygène oxygen + acide acid: cf. F. oxyde. The
French word was correctly spelt oxide, till about the year 1840, when,
in ignorance or forgetfulness of the true history and composition of
the word, the orthography was change to make it represent the υ
of Gr. 'oxy`s, from which it was supposed to be directly derived.]
(Chem.) A binary compound of oxygen with an atom or radical, or a
compound which is regarded as binary; as, iron oxide, ethyl oxide,
nitrogen oxide, etc.
In the chemical nomenclature adopted by Guyton de Morveau,
Lavoisier,and their associates, the term oxides was made to include all
compounds of oxygen which had no acid (F. acide) properties, as
contrasted with the acids, all of which were at that time supposed to
contain oxygen. The orthography oxyde, oxyd, etc., was afterwards
introduced in ignorance or disregard of the true etymology, but these
forms are now obsolete in English. The spelling oxid is not common.
Ox"i*di`za*ble (?), a. Capable of being oxidized.
Ox"i*dize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Oxidized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Oxidizing.] (Chem.) To combine with oxygen, or subject to the action of
oxygen, or of an oxidizing agent. Specifically: (a) To combine with
oxygen or with more oxygen; to add oxygen to; as, to oxidize nitrous
acid so as to form nitric acid. (b) To remove hydrogen from (anything),
as by the action of oxygen; as, to oxidize alcohol so as to form
aldehyde. (c) To subject to the action of oxygen or of an oxidizing
agent, so as to bring to a higher grade, as an -ous compound to an -ic
compound; as, to oxidize mercurous chloride to mercuric chloride.
In certain cases to oxidize is identical with to acidify; for, in
nearly all cases, the more oxygen a substance contains the more nearly
does it approximate to acid qualities; thus, by oxidation many
elements, as sulphur, nitrogen, carbon, chromium, manganese, etc., pass
into compounds which are acid anhydrides, and thus practically in the
acid state.