OF THE ELEMENTARY BODIES. 951 
may also occur with one equally as strong or more strongly 
positive ; and we then have an explanation of the fact, that 
many silicates of powerful bases, as alkalies and alkaline earths, 
protoxide of manganese or iron, &c., are perfectly indifferent 
towards the strongest reagents in the moist way. 
It would then follow, that all elements are able to assume an 
allotropic condition corresponding to that here brought forward, 
and which we recognise with certainty in Ca, Si , Cre, and Tig ; 
and that, although we cannot transpose an isolated element into 
this condition, yet it can be done when it is united with another 
element, if the last can be more readily brought, when the pro- 
per conditions occur, into the state distinguished as . 
We can thus understand why the compounds of antimonic, 
titanic, tantalic, silicic, and many other acids, so readily part 
with their bases, whilst not even a trace of them can be removed 
when the compound has been made to assume the other state 
by being heated to redness, because the transition of the radical 
of the acid into the state 6 has caused the same transition in the 
radical of the base. 
If we glance over the extensive range of the compound in- 
organic bodies with which we are acquainted, we find abundant 
examples of combinations between elements of a dissimilar kind, 
which appear to belong to that condition of the radical which 
_ we have here called 8, and which prove that the majority of the 
known elements may assume this state. Thus, for instance, the 
indifferent chloride of chromium shows that the halogens may 
participate in this condition. 
The difficulty of combustion of carburet of nitrogen may arise 
from the carbon existing in the state of Cz. But the difficult 
combustibility of phosphuret of nitrogen cannot be otherwise 
explained than by assuming that the phosphorus in it exists in 
the same indifferent state as in the phosphuret of iron, which 
we have distinguished as 6. If we go further, we may suppose 
that the perfect indifference of carbon to form compounds de- 
pends upon its always existing in this state, and that when it 
combines with oxygen or hydrogen, circumstances must alter 
its state. 
Among other bodies, the compounds of boron and nitrogen, 
lately discovered by Balmain*, are worthy of notice in this 
* They are described in a paper read before the Chemical Society, Dec. 6, 
1842, and published in the Philosophical Magazine, vol, xxii. p. 467,—Ep. 
