'4^ Rt-fcarches refpc6ting 



that the fulpbat of harytcs was in part d^ompofod^ and th^^ 

 Julpburic acid was divided between the two baj'es, 



*' The other experiments were made, ift, with fulphat of 

 potafli and lime ; 3d, oxalat of lime and potafti ; ^d^ oxalai 

 of lime and nitric acid: 4th, phofphat of lime and 'potaih: 

 5th, potafh and .carbonat of lime: bth, foda aftd fulphat .of 

 potafh. 



" In all thefe experiments Z/?*^ 3^^, which pafs to fofm 

 with acids the ftrongeft and (ifmell combinaticiis, ar£ feen 

 in part eliminated by a hafe to ivhich , a weaker affinity is 

 afcribed, fo that ibe acid is divided heni^een two hufes. Acids 

 ere feen alfo eliminated in part from their baje by others^ thfe 

 affinity of which is confidered as inferio-r, fo that the bafe is 

 divided between two acids J*' 



The author obferves, that " if only a fmall quantity of the 

 decompofing fubftance be employed, the eflFe6l will nat be 

 fenlible;" and concludes, that " when a fubilance a6ls on 

 a combination, that which is the fubje61 of the combination 

 divides itfelf between two other fubftances, not only according 

 to the refpeftive energy of their affinity, but alfo according to 

 their quantity." 



III. Obfervations which confirm the Principle, that Chemical 

 Adion is in the Ratio of the Majs, 



The author makes obfervations on the different kinds of 

 combinations expofed to elective affinity, and examines whe- 

 ther the principle, that chemical action is in the ratio of the 

 mafs, cannot be exactly applied to explain them. 



" If carbonat of potafl)," fays he, '^^ be treated with lime, 

 the whole of the carbonic acid cannot be taken from the pot- 

 afli even by performing fucceffive operations with more lime; 

 and, if the liquid be evaporated, the refiduum (lill effervefces 

 when faturated with "acids — ^becaufe the potafh which re- 

 mains prefeut with the lime oppofes its aiSlion ; and the 

 more carbonic acid the lime has taken up, the more powerful 

 tlie potafh becomes to defend its own combination with the 

 tciibonic actd ;" or, in other words, to reliddccompofition. 



<' When an equilibrium is eliabliihed between the adtiou 

 lime and the reliftance Ajf -the potaffi, if the liquor be 



filtered 



