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IX. On Chemical Nomenclature. 



To Mr. Tilloch. 



SIR, 



J.N your Maga/inie of last month, T observed a very inge- 

 nious sugjvestion for an improvcnieat in the nomenclature 

 of metallic salts, signed E. B. 



Following the modern system of nomenclature, the name 

 of the metallic salt should show in the most concise manner,, 

 the acid, the oxide, and whether it is neutral, or contains 

 excess of acid or excess of base; as the same oxide some- 

 times forms three salts with the same acid. 



A little reflection will show that this is not effected by 

 the present nomenclature ; and E. B.'s may, I think, be 

 shortened and improved. 



The simplest mode of displaying my plan, is, T think, to 

 write in succession the existing nomenclature, E. B.'s, and 

 my own; and afterwards say a few words on the last. 



Present Nomenclature. 

 Sulphate "] 



Supersulphate 



Siibsulphate 



Oxysulphate 

 Superoxysulphate 



Suboxysulphate 



Hypcroxymuriate 



Muriate of mercury 

 Gxymuriate 



Nitrate of lead 

 Oxynitrate of lead 



E. B.'s Plan. 

 Liulphated protoxide ~) 

 Supersulphated pro 



tnxide 

 Subsulphated prot 



oxide I 



Siilphated peroxide | 

 Supsrsulphated per- y 



oxide 

 Subsulphated perox- 

 ide 

 Oxymuriated perox- 

 ide 

 Muriated protoxide 

 Muriated peroxide 



Nitrated protoxide of lead 

 Nitrated deutoxide of 

 lead 



/I. J.'s Plan. 

 Prosulphat 

 Superprosulphat 



Subprosulphat 



Persulphat 

 Superpersuiphat 



Subpersulphat 



Pcroxymuriat 



Promuriat 

 Permuriat 



Pronitrat of lead 

 Dcunitrat of lead. 



>P5 



Bare inspection is almost sufficient to understand my 

 plan. To the metal prefix the acid, to which prefix the 

 words pro, dot, &c., to denote the oxide ; and to denote 

 the salt with excess of acid or of base, place the words 

 super or siih before the pro, den, &c. — thus considering 

 the pros, dens, &e., as neutral salts, and the superpros, 

 suhpros, as the salt with excess or diminution of acid. The 

 word oxide is understood ; and its omission, I think, per- 



feetly 



