I 



Mathematics to Chemistry, 269 



oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, &c., which, adhering with great 

 tenacity, may (till a better name be found) be termed 

 tenacious atoms. The other included such matter or atoms 

 as manifest their existence by motions and actions, under a 

 form which has been denominated ethereal, and hence they 

 may be called ethereal atoms ; to this class was assigned the 

 electric fluid, caloric and light. 



In the same work the atoms of electric fluid were con- 

 sidered as having a much greater absolute force, than those 

 of caloric and light; and this has been abundantly confirmed 

 by subsequent observations, entitling the electric atoms to 

 the rank of an intermediate class. Hence, we have three 

 classes of atoms, viz., tenacious, electric, and ethereal atoms. 

 Of the 1st and 3rd classes there are many sorts, but pro- 

 bably only one sort of electric atoms ; this division and 

 arrangement will at least serve our present purpose. 



The distinction of the classes is founded in a very great 

 difference of the absolute force; that of the sorts in a 

 moderate difference : thus, if the absolute force of an atom 

 of oxygen be 16, and that of hydrogen 1, they will be two 

 sorts of tenacious atoms ; an electric atom must be con- 

 sidered very much less in absolute force than that of either of 

 the former, and the several atoms of light andcaloricperhaps 

 many millions of times less than that of an electric atom. 



In this paper the atomic weight of oxygen is 16, that of 

 hydrogen being 1, as the unit of comparison. It appears 

 to me exceedingly unfortunate that the British chemists 

 have adopted 8 instead of 16 : they tell us, which shews a 

 want of confidence in their own arguments, that it is of no 

 great consequence which of these opinions be adopted. 

 This is indeed true as it regards many experimental deter- 

 minations, but in theory it is exceedingly important. Is it 

 of no consequence to know whether a compound contain in 

 each particle 2, 3, 4, &c., atoms ? If oxygen be 8, a particle 

 or atom of ether contains 10 simple atoms, but, if oxygen 

 be \6, it contains 15 atoms : would not such a difference 

 alter all or most of its properties I A question so deeply 

 scientific ought not to be treated with indifference. 



I have not seen one argument in favour of 8 which has 

 any great point or weight : in favour of 16 only one has 

 met my notice which is a good one : it is this ; the simple 

 gases hydrogen, nitrogen, and chlorine, contain an equal 



