882 Dr. Hare on the Salt Radical Theory. 
metal, the most powerful force engaged in the whole process, is 
overlooked; and thirdly, because the potash is not reduced, but 
on the contrary, unites with the cyanic acid formed by the union 
of the oxygen of the sulphuric acid with cyanogen. 
39. Under the circumstances in question, agreeably to the old 
doctrine, three atoms of oxygen, one of sulphur, one of cyanogen, 
one of potassium, and one of potash are present. The sulphur 
~ seizes the potassium, the oxygen for the most part unites with 
the cyanogen, forming cyanic acid, which combines with the pot- 
ash. This is just what ought to take place, consistently with 
the premises. ' 
_ 33. But according to the new doctrine, the agents being one 
atom of oxysulphionide of potassium, and one atom of the cyan- 
ide of the same metal, the result is precisely such as to justify 
the impression, that the pre-existence of oxysulphion in the sul- 
phate, and the generation of oxycyanion in the resulting cyanate, 
are imaginary. 
34. It is advanced by Liebig, agreeably to a table which he 
gives, that there are seven salt radicals, consisting of sulphur _ 
variously oxidized; and it is remarkable, that anhydrous sul- — 
phuric acid SO*, is treated as the compound radical of sulphurous 
_ acid. Were this correct, anhydrous sulphuric acid ought to pro- 
duce sulphites on contact with metals in the metallic state. =~ 
35. Alluding to the old opinion of the constitution of salts, 
Liebig inquires: “upon what does the power of saturating an 
oxygen acid depend, according to this theory: whence pr 
neutrality? Why. is it necessary that for every equivalent of 
oxygen in the oxide, an additional equivalent of the s 
anhydrous acids must be present ?” 
Replying to the latter of these inquiries first, I refer to the 
facts above adverted to by me, (par. 22,) that in the case of the 
peroxides of the metals, of the alkalies and alkaline earths, each 
additional atom of oxygen does not give the power of combining 
with an additional equivalent of acid. Moreover in the case 
of the metaphosphates adduced. by the author, an oxide in the 
tribasic phosphate has the power, without any addition of oxy- 
gen, to unite with three times as much acid as in the monobasic 
phosphate. . 
_ 36. I will also again call attention to the fact, that althoug 
neither the peroxide of potassium nor that of sodium, will unite 
ae 
Fos: 
5 
