on the Atomic Weights of Bodies. 189 



1st trial, 2-2221 

 2d trial, 2-2221 

 3d trial, 2-2223 



6-6665 



Mean = 2-22216 

 Now, this number may be considered as exactly double 

 the specific gravity of oxygen gas. For it is only ttIjo o tn P art 

 less, a difference far within the limits of the unavoidable 

 errors in such delicate experiments, in which the amount 

 of gas weighed scarcely exceeded 50 grains. The atomic 

 weight of sulphur deduced from this specific gravity is 

 1-9999, or not 7 „i w th part less than 2. It certainly is 

 not more than 2 as Berzelius concludes from experiments 

 made, I admit, with great care ; but certainly not suscep- 

 tible of the same accuracy as we can attain in taking the 

 specific gravity of a gas. 



Thus, I conceive I have proved to the satisfaction of the 

 most squeamish chemist, that the atomic weight of sulphur 

 is 2. And that Berzelius's number, and, of course, Dr. 

 Turner's is erroneous, exceeding the truth by rather more 

 than a half per cent. 



It is admitted on all hands, that the oxygen in sulphuric 

 acid is to that in sulphurous acid as 3 to 2 ; that sulphurous 

 acid is a compound of 1 atom sulphur and 2 atoms oxygen, 

 and sulphuric acid of 1 atom sulphur and 3 oxygen. Hence, 

 the weight of an atom of sulphurous acid is 4, and of sul- 

 phuric acid 5. Berzelius's numbers, and, of course, those 

 of Dr. Turner, who has adopted them, are 

 Sulphurous acid, 4-01165 

 Sulphuric acid, 5-01165 

 The long string of decimals after the whole numbers 4 and 

 5 results from a small error in the atomic weight of sulphur 

 which I have just pointed out. 



2 Berzelius has pitched upon 0-76438 as the atomic 

 weight of carbon ; while Dr. Turner considers 0-765 as the 

 true atomic weight relying on the recent analyses of vege- 

 table substances. Now, let us see what light will be 

 thrown on the subject by a knowledge of the specific 

 gravity of carbonic acid gas, which is a compound of oxy- 

 gen ami carbon. 



