184 Af. Berzelius on Ifydradds^ [SB**r.f 



migLt be readily mistaken for crystals of that salt. In the^ieiilr? 

 theory respecting the constitution of muriatic acid, the $aoMi 

 decompositions take place when potash or soda is saturated witht 

 muriatic acid, and all the phenomena may be- cOiifiis^entl^ 

 explained on the supposition that chlorine is a simple bodyi^or 

 sod^as we cease to maintain the existence of hydrocblorated 

 salts, tmd admit that what we have hitherto stylei muriaAes are 

 combinations of chloriile with the radicals of bases. For the 

 jiature of hydracids in general presupjK>ses that these combina^ 

 tions linust in every respect resemble salts. Hf^ym ru- to l.:>.^ocj 



The abid properties of a hydracid consisti^therefofre^in' its 

 decomposing bases, and not in satutntingi iftiem ; henoe it follows 

 that the property of acidity neither belongs to the substance 

 itself, nor results from the nature of its constitution, but merely 

 indicates a condition opposed to the property of alkalinity. lit 

 the case of hydracids, therefore, it depends at the same instant 

 on the strong affinity which subsists between hydrogen and 

 oxygen, and between the radicals of the acid and the base: and 

 this is the reason why the radical of a hydracid possesses few or 

 none of the characters of an acid substance, because it is unable, 

 unless aided by hydrogen, to deoxidate or decompose the alka- 

 line bases. 



This reciprocal alteration in the elementary constitution of 

 the acid and base, takes place even in the combinations of 

 ammonia with hydracids. Here, the ammonia is converted into 

 ammonium, by seizing upon the fourth atom of hydrogen which 

 forms one of the constituents of the acid, and this ammonium 

 subsequently enters into combination with the radical of the 

 hydracid. For example, when muriatic acid gas is combined 

 with ammonia, yielding the compound which, according to the 

 old theory, was regarded as muriate of ammonia containing 

 water of crystallization, the acid undergoes decomposition, the 

 ammonia combines with its hydrogen, and is thereby converted 

 into ammonium, and the latter, remaining in union with the 

 chlorine of the muriatic acid, forms with it chloride of ammo- 

 nium. When ammoniacal gas is mixed with chlorine, a portion 

 of it is decomposed, the azote is disengaged, and the hydrogeiij 

 combining with another portion of the ammonia, forms with' it 

 ammonium, which now unites with the chlorine. Sal ammouiac 

 is, therefore, a chloride of ammonium just as common sraltiiflja 

 chloride of sodium. iicm- 



'.(The resemblance between the compounds properfy denomi^ 

 nated salts, and those formed by the radicals of hydracids aiid 

 oflba^s is so complete, that (as I have already observedi), it is 

 iay(>089ible, without offering violence to their external qharactari', 

 ton fegOTd them as belonging to dissimilar classes of bodiesi. 

 Nevertheless, in a theoretical of point view, there is a wide differ- 

 ence between the compounds of oxidated acids and bases, and 



