270 On Chemical Nomenclature. 
Compounds which consist of radicals only, are distinguished by the 
term wret equivalent to the French ure. Hence carburet, phosphuret, 
boruret, silicuret, &c. 
Of any two binary compounds containing each the same basaci- 
gen body and forming one compound, the more electro-negative is 
an acid, the other a base. Hence all the electro-negative haloid 
compounds in the Berzelian double salts, are acids, and the electro- 
positive, bases. Where there are two such compounds one contain- 
ing one basacigen atom, the other two atoms or one and half, the 
pant has a termination in ous, the latter in ic. As for instance the 
ehlorureplatinosopotassique of Berzelius, is a compound of chloro- 
platinous acid, and the chlorobase of potassium, and is the chloro- 
platinite of potassium. The sexe cl tobbans flat of the 
same author, is the chloroplatinate of potassium.* 
By analogy the intelligent reader may easily make these examples 
a clue to designate any othine of the double salts of Berzelius so as to 
accord with the plan in question. He may have a bromoplatinate, 
or bromoplatinite, a iodoplatinate or iodoplatinite, a fluoplatinate, 
&c.; or exchanging the radical a chloroaurate or chloroaurite, a bro- 
moaurate or bromoaurite, §c. 
The terms amphigen and halogen being employed both from ex- 
pediency, and in honor of their author, we may use his terms hal- 
oid and amphide, to distinguish the acids or bases severally formed 
by these classes, the abbreviations halo and amph, being employed 
in composition. ‘Thus I designate the acids formed by the halogen 
bodies with hydrogen, as halohydric acids; those formed with that 
radical by the amphigen bodies, as amphydric acids. As the same 
radical will in other cases be found to form acids with several of the 
halogen bodies, platinum for instance, the acids thus produced, may 
be called haloplatinic aids ; or if gold were the radical, they would 
be called haloauric acids. These examples will suggest to the chem- 
eats Dist er eae 
* In designating salts of the metals proper, as for instance, the nitrate of mercu- 
ry; the idea of the oxydisement of the metal is always understood, although usu- 
ally not expressed. In the instance above cited, we actually mean the nitrate of 
the oxide or oxybase of mercury. By analogy, I here use the term chloroplatinate 
of potassium, for chloroplatinate of the chlorobase of potassium. It is in fact, well 
known to chemists, that acids do not unite directly with metals. The sate alleg- 
ed exception to this rule, of which I have any knowledge, is that “ telluriam 
sulphuric acid. It is inferred, spice that when an acid is combined with @ 
metal, the la te sess rth foemiad ‘inh Oe basacigen body 
which enters fata the eomposition of the prs 
