Poe 
_ Dr. Hare on the » ‘ 
Art. V.—An attempt to refute the Reasoning 
of the Salt Radical Theory; by Roserr H. 
of Chemistry in the University of Pennsyly 
pee 
* ge as 2 ee 
Messrs. Editors—Agreeably to the notice given at the closeof 
my last communication in this Journal, p. 82, I will proceed § 
with my objections to Liebig’s reasoning in support of he salt 
radical theory, commencing with another quotation from his ec: 
tures delivered at Geissen,* for that purpose.t— ely 
16. “In one atom,” says the lecturer, “ of a metallic oxide con- 
taining one equivalent of oxygen, this oxygen is replaced by one 
equivalent of chlorine, when brought into contact with an hy- 
drogen acid. Take a metallic oxide containing two equivalents 
of oxygen, bring tt into contact with an hydrogen acid, such as 
hydrochloric acid, what will be the chlorine compound produced ? 
A corresponding metallic chloride. Take an oxide of the third 
class, (two atoms of metal, three atoms of oxygen,) what will be 
the product? A compound in which you will find two atoms of 
metal combined with three atoms of chlorine. 
tt M, O, M, Cl 
M, 02, My Cl? 
M?, O3, M?, Cl%.” 
17. The facts mentioned in the preceding quotation, being rep- 
resented by Liebig as justifying in inference that the proportions 
in which chlorine and metals combine, is due to the oxygen and 
hydrogen with which they may happen to be in combination, he 
proceeds thus to proclaim his impressions. “ Upon what, then, 
does the saturating capacity of the acid depend ? Upon the hy- 
drogen it contains. Upon what does the property of the base (of 
the metallic oxide) of neutralizing the acid depend? Upon the 
oxygen it contains.” 'Thus the property of the halogen bodies, 
of forming neutral haloid compounds with metals, is not the con- 
sequence of the affinity for metals which they exert, when naked, 
but rests upon the fact that they may have been, are now, or may 
hereafter be, severally in union with orygen and hydrogen ; so 
SOT IG eee eT ee oe Cede a SOMES enone one 
* The Lancet, (London,) Vol. IT, No. 1090. 
+ Dr. Hare’s second communication having been too late for insertion in the 
number for March, the whole is given in this number—that is to say, both the 
nd and the conclusion.— Eds. Am. Jour. . 
