264 2>r. Thomas Thomson's Experiments on the 



heat, we have it in our power to calculate the true specific 

 heat of all these compounds. For it is clear that the pro- 

 duct of these multiplied by the number 0-375, and divided 

 by the atomic weight, must give the true specific heat. 

 The following table has been calculated in that way. 



+ 10 



True Mean 

 p. heat. sp. heats. 



10000 

 0-3673 

 0-4655 

 0-4925 

 0-5131 

 0-5647 

 0-6063 

 0-6407 

 0-6696 

 0-6942 

 07153 



0-4587 

 0-5326 

 0-5869 

 0-6306 

 0-6660 

 0-6952 

 0-7197 

 0-7405 

 0-7585 



Differences, 



+ 00068 or ^3 



— 0-0401 or -jL 



— 0-0738 



— 0-0597 



— 00541 



— 00545 



— 0-0501 



— 0-0463 



— 00432 



The differences between the mean specific heats and the 

 true (supposing the second column to represent these) is 

 somewhat diminished in the first six, and somewhat aug- 

 mented in the last four numbers ; but its nature is no 

 where altered. 



Sulphuric acid is a compound of 1 atom sulphur and 3 

 atoms oxygen ; so that an integrant particle of it contains 

 four atoms. There are two opinions respecting the con- 

 stitution of water. The continental chemists, in general, 

 consider it as a compound of 1 atom oxygen and 2 atoms 

 hydrogen ; while British chemists, with scarcely any ex- 

 ception, consider it as a compound of 1 atom oxygen and 

 1 atom hydrogen. According to continental chemists the 

 weight of the atom of hydrogen is 0-06*25, while according 

 to British chemists it is 0*125 or twice as great. We have 

 no means of determining which of these two opinions is 

 the true one. Both are supported by very plausible argu- 

 ments. But it will suit our present views better to adopt 

 the continental opinion, and to admit that water is a com- 

 pound of 1 atom oxygen + 2 atoms hydrogen, or that it is 

 a triple compound. 



We may draw up a table representing the number of 

 atoms contained in an integrant particle of each of our 



