322 OBSERVATIONS ON MURIATIC ACID; 
the most energetic chemical agent ; it enters into combination 
in proportions strictly definite, is retained by the most power- 
ful affinities; communicates new and characteristic properties ; 
and is essential even to the existence of these compounds, in 
an insulated form. Berzextius and Gay Lussac have stated, 
that it is to be considered as a base necessary to retain the ele- 
ments of the acid combined, though without neutralising the 
acid properties,—an opinion which in itself, and still more with 
this condition, is certainly sufficiently incongruous. And both 
theories admit equally of incongruity in the supposed presence 
and energetic action of water in acids. The old doctrine ad- 
mits its influence in sulphuric, nitric, phosphoric, and muriatic 
acids, though at variance with its principle, that oxygen is the 
element which confers acidity, or at least having no conformi- 
ty to that principle, nor receiving explanation from it. The 
new doctrine refuses to admit it with regard to muriatic acid, 
but admits it in all the others,—an exception which serves only 
to render the system more objectionable by the violation of 
analogy; while the admission with regard to the others is 
equally incapable of being accounted for on any principle it af- 
fords. By considering oxygen and hydrogen as elements 
conferring acidity, a satisfactory solution is afforded of the ef- 
fects produced in these cases by their joint operation; and in- 
dependent of this, it is much more probable, a@ priori, that such 
effects should arise from the action of elements so powerful, 
than from the agency of water, which, in its general relations, 
exerts such feeble powers. Lastly, The principle on which the 
presence of combined water in these acids has been supposed. 
to depend, —that of the strong attraction of the acid to water, 
seems altogether fallacious; for on this principle sulphurous 
acid should also contain combined water, and sulphuretted hy- 
drogen, and even carbonic acid, might be expected to retain a 
small . 
