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gases

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gases


  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Gas  \Gas\  (g[a^]s),  n.;  pl  {Gases}  (-[e^]z).  [Invented  by  the 
  chemist  Van  Helmont  of  Brussels,  who  died  in  1644.] 
  1.  An  a["e]riform  fluid;  --  a  term  used  at  first  by  chemists 
  as  synonymous  with  air,  but  since  restricted  to  fluids 
  supposed  to  be  permanently  elastic,  as  oxygen,  hydrogen, 
  etc.,  in  distinction  from  vapors,  as  steam,  which  become 
  liquid  on  a  reduction  of  temperature.  In  present  usage, 
  since  all  of  the  supposed  permanent  gases  have  been 
  liquified  by  cold  and  pressure,  the  term  has  resumed 
  nearly  its  original  signification,  and  is  applied  to  any 
  substance  in  the  elastic  or  a["e]riform  state. 
 
  2.  (Popular  Usage) 
  a  A  complex  mixture  of  gases,  of  which  the  most 
  important  constituents  are  marsh  gas,  olefiant  gas, 
  and  hydrogen,  artificially  produced  by  the  destructive 
  distillation  of  gas  coal,  or  sometimes  of  peat,  wood, 
  oil,  resin,  etc  It  gives  a  brilliant  light  when 
  burned,  and  is  the  common  gas  used  for  illuminating 
  purposes. 
  b  Laughing  gas. 
  c  Any  irrespirable  a["e]riform  fluid. 




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