Ox"i*di`zer (?), n. (Chem.) An agent employed in oxidation, or which
facilitates or brings about combination with oxygen; as, nitric acid,
chlorine, bromine, etc., are strong oxidizers.
Ox*id"u*la`ted (?), a. (Chem.) Existing in the state of a protoxide; --
said of an oxide. [R.]
Ox"ime (?), n. (Chem.) One of a series of isonitroso derivatives
obtained by the action of hydroxylamine on aldehydes or ketones.
Ox*in"dol (?), n. [Oxygen + indol.] (Chem.) A white crystalline
nitrogenous substance (C8H7NO) of the indol group, obtained by the
reduction of dioxindol. It is a so-called lactam compound.
Ox`i*od"ic (?), a. [Oxy- (a) + iodic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or
designating, certain compounds of iodine and oxygen.
Ox"like (?), a. Characteristic of, or like, an ox.
Ox"lip` (?), n. [AS. oxanslyppe. See Ox, and Cowslip.] (Bot.) The great
cowslip (Primula veris, var. elatior).
Ox"o*nate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of oxonic acid.
Ox*o"ni*an (?), a. Of or relating to the city or the university of
Oxford, England. Macaulay.
Ox*o"ni*an, n. A student or graduate of Oxford University, in England.
Ox*on"ic (?), a. [Prob. glyoxalic + carbonic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to,
or designating, a complex nitrogenous acid (C4H5N3O4) not known in the
free state, but obtained, in combination with its salts, by a slow
oxidation of uric acid, to which it is related.
Ox"peck`er (?), n. (Zoöl.) An African bird of the genus Buphaga; the
beefeater.
Ox"shoe` (?), n. A shoe for oxen, consisting of a flat piece of iron
nailed to the hoof.
Ox"ter (?), n. [AS. hsta.] The armpit; also, the arm. [Prov. Eng. &
Scot.]
Ox"tongue` (?), n. (Bot.) A name given to several plants, from the
shape and roughness of their leaves; as, Anchusa officinalis, a kind of
bugloss, and Helminthia echioides, both European herbs.
Ox"y- (?). (Chem.) A prefix, also used adjectively, designating: (a) A
compound containing oxygen. (b) A compound containing the hydroxyl
group, more properly designated by hydroxy-. See Hydroxy-.
Oxy acid. See Oxyacid (below).
Ox`y*a*ce"tic (?), a. [Oxy- (b) + acetic.] Hydroxyacetic; designating
an acid called also glycolic acid.
Ox`y*ac"id (?), n. [Oxy- (a) + acid.] (Chem.) An acid containing
oxygen, as chloric acid or sulphuric acid; -- contrasted with the
hydracids, which contain no oxygen, as hydrochloric acid. See Acid, and
Hydroxy-.
Ox`y*am*mo"ni*a (?), n. [Oxy- (b) + ammonia.] (Chem.) Same as
Hydroxylamine.
Ox`y*ben"zene (?), n. [Oxy- (b) + benzene.] (Chem.) Hydroxy benzene.
Same as Phenol.
Ox`y*ben*zo"ic (?), a. [Oxy- (b) + benzoic.] (Chem.) Hydroxybenzoic;
pertaining to, or designating, any one of several hydroxyl derivatives
of benzonic acid, of which the commonest is salicylic acid.
Ox`y*bro"mic (?), a. [Oxy- (a) + bromic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or
designating, certain compounds of oxygen and bromine.
Ox`y*bu*tyr"ic (?), a. [Oxy- (b) + butyric.] (Chem.) Hydroxybutyric;
designating any one of a group of metameric acids (C3H6.OH.CO2H).
Ox`y*cal"ci*um (?), a. [Oxy- (a) + calcium.] Of or pertaining to oxygen
and calcium; as, the oxycalcium light. See Drummond light.
Ox`y*ca*pro"ic (?), a. (Chem.) See Leucic.
Ox`y*chlo"ric (?), a. [Oxy- (a) + chloric.] (Chem.) (a) Of, pertaining
to, or designating in general, certain compounds containing oxygen and
chlorine. (b) Formerly designating an acid now called perchloric acid.
See Perchloric.
Ox`y*chlo"ride (?), n. [Oxy- (a) + chloride.] (Chem.) A ternary
compound of oxygen and chlorine; as, plumbic oxychloride.
Ox"y*crate (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;;&?;&?;&?;&?; acid +
&?;&?;&?;&?; to mix: cf. F. oxycrat.] (med.) A Mixture of water and
vinegar. Wiseman.
Ox`y*cy"mene (?), n. [Oxy- (b) + cymene.] (Chem.) Hydroxy cymene. Same
as Carvacrol.
Ox"y*gen (?), n. [F. oxygène, from Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; sharp, acid + root
of &?;&?;&?;&?; to be born. So called because originally supposed to be
an essential part of every acid.]
1. (Chem.) A colorless, tasteless, odorless, gaseous element occurring
in the free state in the atmosphere, of which it forms about 23 per
cent by weight and about 21 per cent by volume, being slightly heavier
than nitrogen. Symbol O. Atomic weight 15.96.
It occurs combined in immense quantities, forming eight ninths by
weight of water, and probably one half by weight of the entire solid
crust of the globe, being an ingredient of silica, the silicates,
sulphates, carbonates, nitrates, etc. Oxygen combines with all elements
(except fluorine), forming oxides, bases, oxyacid anhydrides, etc., the
process in general being called oxidation, of which combustion is only
an intense modification. At ordinary temperatures with most substances
it is moderately active, but at higher temperatures it is one of the
most violent and powerful chemical agents known. It is indispensable in
respiration, and in general is the most universally active and
efficient element. It may be prepared in the pure state by heating
potassium chlorate.
This element (called dephlogisticated air by Priestley) was named
oxygen by Lavoisier because he supposed it to be a constituent of all
acids. This is not so in the case of a very few acids (as hydrochloric,
hydrobromic, hydric sulphide, etc.), but these do contain elements
analogous to oxygen in property and action. Moreover, the fact that
most elements approach the nearer to acid qualities in proportion as
they are combined with more oxygen, shows the great accuracy and
breadth of Lavoisier's conception of its nature.