674 BERZELIUS ON THE COMPOSITION OF 
although it does not follow that the conjugate union may not 
obtain when the oxygen atoms are in smaller number. As long 
as one of the bodies constituting a conjugate compound is an 
inorganic oxide, there is no difficulty in recognising the conju- 
gate compound, or in ascertaining the composition of the con- 
junct. But when both the sbeeaialle active oxide and the other 
body constituting the conjunct are of organic composition, and 
contain the same elements, analysis then gives us not the slightest 
idea of the mode of combination, and its nature must be ascer- 
tained by some other means. Such means are however very 
seldom to be met with, and have only been applicable in a very 
few cases; we, however, possess sufficient to show that such a 
mode of combination exists. 
When we turn our attention to the great number of conjugate 
compounds into which sulphuric acid enters, and which are 
already known, and when we learn that the number of organic 
bodies which do not produce such compounds with sulphuric 
acid is very limited; when we find that nitric acid, phosphoric 
acid, and even the chlorine acids, enter into the composition of 
conjugate compounds, it then appears that this mode of com- 
bination, although but quite recently properly understood, is 
nevertheless one of general occurrence; and it appears to be 
much more generally made use of in the ceconomy of organic 
nature than in inorganic chemistry, so that the greater number 
of organic bodies may consist of conjugate compounds, which 
we should never be able to discover by the separation of their 
individual components. We only obtain a knowledge of the 
conjugate compounds themselves, and must be satisfied to con- 
sider these as peculiar definitive bodies. 
We have discovered in inorganic chemistry that the affinity 
between the chemically active oxide and its conjunct is very 
various ; sometimes the compound is decomposed by the weakest 
agencies, at other times the affinity is so strong that it can only 
be dissolved by the destruction of one of the constituent bodies. 
The oxygen of the chemically active oxide can be exchanged for 
sulphur, chlorine, &c., and the conjunct follows the adie from 
one combination to the other. The conjugate compound of sub- 
chloride of platinum with elayle can be deccmposed by hydrate 
of potash, and the conjunct accompanies the platinum in the 
suboxide; it can be decomposed by zinc, and the platinum is 
eliminated still coupled with elayle. When such intimate con- 
