Basics and Discovery of Atmospheric Chemicals - Air Pollution and Global Warming: History, Science, and Solutions - page 10

Figure 1.11. Andreas Libavius (1540-1616). Edgar
Fahs Smith Collection, University of Pennsylvania
Library.

Figure 1.10. Geber (c. 750-800). Edgar Fahs Smith
Collection, University of Pennsylvania Library.

sal ammoniac [NH 4 Cl(s), ammonium chloride ], a
mineral crystal obtained from the Libyan Desert near
the temple of Jupiter Ammon (the ultimate source of
the name for the gas ammonia). Ammonium chloride
can form when ammonia gas enters sea spray particles,
which contain chlorine. It may be the most abundant
ammonium-containing solid in the air.

Sulfuric acid is present in aerosol particles and respon-
sible for most acid deposition problems today.

1.2.1.14. Nitric Acid (Aqueous)
Libavius also reacted elemental sulfur with dissolved
nitric acid [HNO 3 (aq), spirit of nitre ], indicating that
he was aware of this compound. Nitric acid was most
likely formed from the reaction of H 2 SO 4 (aq) with
KNO 3 (s). Nitric acid is a strong acid that is corrosive.
It enters aerosol particles by the dissolution of nitric
acid gas into liquid water-containing bases (e.g., Na + ,
Ca 2 + ,Mg 2 + ,K + ,NH 4 + )inthe particles. Gas-phase
nitric acid forms chemically from nitrogen oxide gases,
emitted during combustion of fossil fuels and wood and
produced by lightning.

1.2.1.13. Sulfuric Acid (Aqueous)
Vincent de Beauvais (1190-1264), a French philoso-
pher, mentions the solvent power of the liquid acid
distilled (separated by heating) from the natural crys-
tal, potassium alum [KAl(SO 4 ) 2 -12H 2 O(s)]. The acid
wasprobably dissolved sulfuric acid [H 2 SO 4 (aq)],
and de Beauvais may have been the first to record its
observation.
In 1585, Andreas Libavius (1540-1616; Figure
1.11), a German chemist who in 1597 wrote one of
the first organized textbooks on chemistry, Alchemia ,
found that sulfuric acid, referred to at the time as “oil
of vitriol,” could also be extracted from “green vitriol“
(ferrous sulfate, FeSO 4 -7H 2 O(s), a blue-green natural
crystal) and obtained by burning elemental sulfur with
saltpeter [KNO 3 (s)] in the presence of liquid water.

1.2.1.15. Hydrochloric Acid (Aqueous)
In his topic, Syntagma , published between 1611 and
1613, Libavius recorded the first description of the for-
mation of hydrochloric acid [HCl(aq)], called spiri-
tus salis ,or“spirit of salt.” He prepared it by heating
rock salt [NaCl(s)] in water in the presence of clay
(in clay crucibles). HCl(aq) can also be obtained by
reacting rock salt with green vitriol [FeSO 4 -7H 2 O(s)].