266 ,u v.>^ M, Ferre on the Application of the [Oct. 



consequence of the formation of carbonate of potash which in 

 again dissolved, a i ^' > q 



ij, OilOrga)dc Chemicat Phenomena. '" 



We have seen combinations effected between bodies whose 

 molecules are naturally endowed with free opposite electricities, 

 and otliers in which only one of the combining substances pos- 

 sessing acid or alkaline properties, developes by its influence the 

 electricity of the other, and renders it a sort of accidental acid 

 or alkah, the induced state being only momentary and condi- 

 tional, and ceasing with the influence that occasioned it. We 

 have now to consider a third kind of combination between 

 bodies, some of which only possess alkaline or acid properties, 

 as in the preceding instance, but develope them permanently in 

 the others ; in a word, real acids or alkahes are formed, and thus 

 two compounds are produced instead of one. The definitive 

 compound is preceded by the formation of another, which merely 

 assists in forming part of the first. 



A remarkable instance of this kind of combination is seen in 

 the action of alkahes on fatty substances. The molecules of the 

 former not finding a free negative electricity in those of the 

 latter capable of neutralizing their own positive electricity, deve- 

 lope it, as in their action on water, by attracting such of their 

 elementary molecules as are negatively electrified, and repelling 

 the others; but water being formed of only two constituent 

 molecules, it is evident that this influence could not produce a 

 new compound. Organic substances, containing a greater num- 

 ber of elements, they are capable, by a change in their relative 

 disposition, of so arranging themselves as to form compounds in 

 which the negative electricity predominates, and consequently 

 are able to neutralize the positive electricity of the alkalies. 



This mode of combination is very different from that which 

 gives rise to inorganic compounds. In fact, in their formation 

 the constituent molecules, left to their reciprocal action, are free 

 to obey their tendency to combine molecule with molecule, and 

 the combination is thus always binary, or produced by the action 

 of only two forces. The proportions of their elements depend 

 solely on this binary disposition of their molecules and their 

 number* Their electrical state has no influence on their propor- 

 tion^^ ibut in the formation of acids by the action of alkahes on 

 fatty! ! substances, their constituent molecules are no longer 

 abandoned to their sole reciprocal action ; they are regulated by 

 the influence of the positive electricity of the alkalies, which 

 opposes their tendency to combine molecule with molecule> and 

 obliges them to unite in such numbers, and to assume such rela- 

 tive disposition, as shall produce compounds, whose electri^^l 

 ^lbr)ift{;4^pable of ueutralizipg that which a^ts upooi ihem. bxlA 



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