1$ Inquiry into the Lavit of Affinity.. 



extricated by a bafis to which a weaker affinity is attributed ; fo that the acid was divided 

 between the two bafcs. It is likewife obferved that the acids are partly difengaged from 

 their bafe by others, the affinity of which Is confidered as inferior, fo that the bafe i> 

 divided between two acids. 



The author premifes, that if a finall quantity only of the decompofnig fubftance be 

 employed, the efFedt will not be perceptible, and he concludes, that when any fubftance 

 acls upon a combination, that which is the fubjedl of the combination is divided between 

 the two other fubftances, not only according to the refpedlve energies of their affinity, but 

 likewife according to their quantity. 



ARTICLE III. 



Obfervations nvhich confirm the Principle of the Chemical ABion in Proportion to the Maft, 



The author makes obfervations on different kinds of combination expofed to an ele£tlve 

 affinity, and examines whether the principle of chemical adtion, in proportion to the mafs, 

 be not preclfely applicable to their explanation. 



If, as he obferves, we treat the carbonate of pot-afli with lime, we cannot deprive the 

 pot-a(h of all its carbonic acid, even by making fucceffive operations with frefli lime ; and 

 if we evaporate the fluid, the refiduum is ftlll capable of effervefcence, on being faturated 

 by the acids, becaufe the pot-afh which remained prefent with the lime oppofed its aftlon ; 

 ■ and, the greater the quantity of carbonic acid which has been before abforbed by the lime, 

 the more powerful is the pot-afh to maintain its combination with this acid. 



When the equilibrium is eflablifhed between the aftlon of the lime and the refiflance of 

 the pot-afh, if the liquid be filtered and evaporated, we may take away, by a weak affinity, 

 that portion of alkali which is fuperabundant to the conftltution of carbonate of pot-afh, 

 that is to fay, the whole portion which Is not defended by a confiderable mafs of carbonic 

 acid. Alcohol pofTefTes this property ; the feparatlon Is effe£l:ed by this fluid. The car- 

 bonate of pot-afli remains In folution in a fmall quantity of water, while the alcohol of 

 pot-afh floats above. The feparated carbonate may again be treated with lime ; and by this 

 fecond operation It may be reduced to an inconfiderable quantity. 



Cit. Berthollet alfo quotes feveral other experiments relative to the chemical adlion in 

 proportion to the mafs. 



If a carbonate which contains an excefs of pot-afh be treated with alcohol, It can only be 

 deprived of a part of Its excefs by fuch treatment. 



The other neutral falls likewife pofTefs the property of retaining a part of that pot-afh 

 which may be contained in them fuperabundant to their neutralization. 



It Is alfo known that phofphate of lime cannot be entirely decompofed by the futphuric 

 acid; though it has been aflerted that the fulphuric acid has a greater affinity to lime than 

 tbc phofphoric acid» 



The 



