On Chemical Nomenclature. ; 269 
thus form a salt by union with an atom of any radical. He conceives. 
that the apparent want of analogy, which induced him to separate 
into two classes, the amphigen and halogen bodies, disappears under 
this view of the phenomena ; and that his amphide salts might be con- 
sidered as constituted of a compound halogen body and an elemen- 
tary radical. But however we may admire the ingenuity of these 
suggestions, ere, in obedience to them, we extend the limits of the 
halogen class, I would request that the word salt should be defined, 
and that it be shown that consistently with any definition which can 
be devised, there is any class of bodies in nature which merit the ap- 
pellation of salt producers. Before enlarging the superstructure, let 
it be shown that the basement has been well grounded. 
Berzelius lays some stress on the community of effect, in the evo- 
lution of hydrogen, both by acids formed by hydrogen with halogen 
bodies, and by diluted hydrous sulphuric acid, as evincing a. simili- 
tude of composition justifying the suggestion above quoted from him. 
But I conceive that this common result is better explained by ascri- 
bing it to the tendency of radicals to displace each other from com- 
bination, whether existing in a simple or a complicated compound. 
If water exists as a base in hydrous sulphuric acid ; as I have else- 
where suggested, we may consider this hydrous acid as a sulphate of 
_ the oxybase of hydrogen ; and that when it reacts with zinc or iron, 
the proneness of hydrogen to the aériform state enables either metal 
to take its place, agreeably to the established laws of affinity. 
It may be proper, before concluding, to explain more particularly 
the nomenclature which I have adopted. 
The amphigen, and halogen bodies of Berzelius as they produce 
acids and bases according to my definition, are all classed as basaci- 
gen bodies. Of course oxygen, chlorine, bromine, iodine, fluorine, 
cyanogen, sulphur, selenium and tellurium, are included in this class. 
he general designation of a binary compound of a basacigen 
body, is the termination in ide; the special, the ‘termination in acid, 
when the compound acts as an acid, in base, when it acts as a base. 
Hence an oxide, may be an oxgcid, or an oxybase ; 
a chloride, a chloracid, ° or a chloribase ; 
a bromide, a bromacid, or a bromibase ; 
an iodide, an iodacid, — or an iodobase ; 
a cyanide, a cyanacid, or a cyanobase ; 
a sulphide, a sulphacid, or a sulphobase ; 
a selenide, - aselenacid, or a selenibase ; 
a telluride, a telluracid, or a telluribase ; 
