Life and Writings of Berzelius. 9 



of determining, scientifically, a great portion of the substances 

 presented by nature, and which, up to that time, could not be 

 made to enter into any classification of a truly scientific cha- 

 racter. He united these two sciences so intimately, that the 

 study of minerals could no longer be separated from chemistry. 



The explanation of the theory of chemical proportions will 

 be always regarded as one of the most important services 

 which this chemist has rendered to the science. He pub- 

 lished his researches in 1807, before Dcilton's ideas were 

 generally known, working according to the almost forgotten 

 views of Richtei% which demonstrated the constancy of the 

 combining proportions of acids and bases. The clear judg- 

 ment of Berzelius enabled him to perceive the value of 

 Richter's notions. 



He made very careful analyses of certain salts, and could 

 thus determine the composition of many others. In order to 

 prove the accuracy of Richter's theoretical ideas, he under- 

 took an extensive examination of salts ; and when the atomic 

 theory of Dalton subsequently came to his knowledge, he 

 found that it perfectly agreed with the results he had ob- 

 tained. 



He proved, besides, in the most exact manner, that the 

 proportion of oxygen is constant in all the neutral salts of 

 the same acid. Berzelius then determined the relative pro- 

 portional weights in which the different elements unite in 

 order to form compounds. 



This was one of the subjects in which he engaged with the 

 greatest ardour. We are likewise indebted to him for the 

 greater part of the equivalents of simple bodies. 



Tliis great chemist not only contributed to establish and 

 bring to perfection the atomic theory, but he introduced it 

 into science, thus giving a powerful impulse to organic and 

 mineralogical chemistry. 



The electro-chemical theory, with all its consequences, 

 whether realised or yet to come, is also one of the most re- 

 markable works. This theory has been vigorously assailed 

 in latter times, but up to the present time it has not really 

 been shaken ; the application of the laws of combination to 

 the animal and vegetable organisation is, we believe, one effect 



