On Chemical Nomenclature. 321 



as it makes not the least provision for those metals which 

 combine with three and four proportions ot" oxygen ; conse- 

 quently there are no names for those salts which contain 

 oxides intermediate between the minimum and the maxi- 

 mum. For instance, late experiments have shown that no 

 less than three oxides of iron combine with the sulphuric 

 acid. The first of these combinations is called sulphate of 

 iron, the last is called oxy- sulphate ; and for the second 

 therq is no chemical name. 



2dly. It is evident that great confusion must arise from 

 the want of some di^^tinction between a superfluity of 

 oxygen in the acid, and a maximum in the base. Am I 

 to suppose that the oxy-prussiate of iron is the peroxide 

 combined with prussic acid ; — or must I conclude that it is 

 the nictal in an inferior degree of oxidation combined with 

 oxy-prussic acid ? Indeed, by pursuing the present nomen- 

 clature, we may soon expect to hear of oxy-oxy-prussiates 

 and oxy-hyper-oxy-muriates, when there are at the same 

 time an excess of oxygen in the acid and a maximum in 

 the base. 



3dly. When any metal has more oxides than two, the 

 present nomenclature leaves us totally unable to distinguish 

 the particular oxide united to the acid. Thus any one would 

 suppose that the nitrate, sulphate and hyperoxymuriate of 

 letid, each contained the same oxide base ; yet we find these 

 .salts severally containing the prot-, deut-, and per-oxides. 



In short, to these capital defects in nomenclature I ascribe 

 the slow progress which has hitherto been made in our 

 knowledge of the metallic salts, and I conclude that some 

 improvement is absolutely necessary. That which I would 

 suggest has at least the advantage of clearness and sin)plicity. 

 I would carry into the nomenclature of these salts, Doctor 

 Thomson's mode of designating the metallic oxides. For 

 nitrate of lead, I would say nitrated protoxide of lead; and 

 for oxy-nitrate, I would say (if such salts can be formed) 

 nitrated deutoxide, tritoxide, or peroxide, according to the 

 degree in which the metal may happen to be oxided. By 

 this cliange every possible variety of these salts is provided 

 vith a name, ck*arly distinguishing tfie decree to which the 



Vol. 30. No. 120c May 1608. X baic 



