44^4 ~ On Chemical Denomtnathns ; particularly Chrome. 



from the nitric acid the whole quantity of oxygen neceflary for its acidification. It was 

 ftill in the (late of oxide. 



I treated it again with the concentrated nitric acid ; and by a feries of operations of thi»- 

 nature I at length fuccecded in completely acidifying it. 



The combination of this artificial acid with potafli exhibited abfoJutely the fame appear- 

 ances with the different re- agents as the fait which Is formed with the natural acid. See. 



SeGiou II. 



S E C T I O N IX. 



Demm'ination of the Metal coiiiaitied in the native Red Lead. 



WHEN an unknown fubdance is to be examined, the only method to afcertain whether 

 it has been before defcribed, is to examine its properties, and compare them with thofe of 

 other bodies ; an operation which fuppofes a knowledge of all that has been before de- 

 fcribed in natural liiftory. And when, after an accurate comparifon of the properties of the 

 body under examination with thofe of other bodies, it is found that none of thefe laft exhi- 

 bit the whole of thofe properties, a fair conclufion may be formed that the body is un- 

 known, and confequently that it is new. 



After this point is determined, it becomes necefTary, in order to make it known to others 

 that its diftinftive charafters {hould be clearly afcertained, and a name given to it, for the 

 purpofe of brief defignation, and of Infciiption in the catalogue of human knowledge. 



This name may be derived from various fources ; — the place whence it was obtained 

 the author who difcovered it, or the fpecific properties it poflefTes, &c. : but it is cafy to 

 fee that the two firft fources are vicious. In fa£l, the name of the place feems to announce 

 that the fubftance is to be found exclufively theie ; and it is very far from being known, 

 at the early period of difcovery, whether it may not be found elfewhere. The name of the 

 author teaches nothing, except that fuch a man was the difcoverer ; a circumdance of lit- 

 tle intereft to fcience. But the name of a fubftance deduced from its leading properties is 

 truly ufeful, becaufe it brings to mind, and in fome meafure places the object before th« 

 eyes by a faithful (ketch of its attributes. 



From thefe confiderations I have thought fit to adopt the name chrome, which was pro- 

 pofed to me by Cit. Haiiy, to defignate the new metal found in the native red lead. Iq 

 truth, this name does not perfeftly agree with the complete metal, becaufe it has no vert 

 diftinft colour; and becaufe, even if it had one, this would not be a fulhcient reafon, Cnce 

 every metal has a more or lefs peculiar colour. 



But it agrees wonderfully well with its combinations with oxygen, which afford a green 

 oxide, or a red acid, according to the proportions of that principle, and becaufe each of its 

 primary combinations communicates its colour to all the fecondary combinations into which 

 it enters; properties which belong to it almoft exclufively. 



This name appears to me to be fo much the better founded, as this fubftance has not 

 yet been difcovered except in the (late of acid or oxide, and becaufe it may perhaps never 

 .be found in the native metallic ftate. 



Neverthelefs, as I am not difpofedto confider the adoption of one name rather than an- 

 other as of any importance, provided the name do exprefs fome remarkable or diftimaive 

 property of that which it denotes, I (ball with pleafure, if a better name be found, confent 

 to fubftitute it inftead of chrome. 



$ E C. 



