i?i Chemical Combinations. 43 



■sree of probability whicli will approach to what we call in 

 physics cerlaiiity. Supposing it to l)e admitted, it will be suffi- 

 cient to know the volumes in the state of gas of a compound 

 bodv and of its components, in order to know how a particle of 

 the compounded body contains particles or portions of a particle 

 of the two components. Nitrous gas, containing for instance 

 the half of its volume in oxygen and the half in azote, it follows 

 that a particle of nitrous gas is formed by the union of half a 

 particle of oxygen and half a particle of azote ; the gas formed 

 by the combination of chlore and of the oxide of carbon, con- 

 taining volumes of these two gases which are ecjual to its own, 

 one of its particles is formed by the junction of a particle of 

 chlore, and a particle of oxide of carbon ; water in vapour con- 

 taining, according- to the fine experiments of M. Gay Lussac, an 

 equal volume of hydrogen, and the half of its volume in oxygen, 

 one of its particles will be composed oi an entire particle of 

 liydrogen, and the half of a particle of oxygen : for the same reason 

 a particle of the gaseous oxide of azote will contain an entire 

 particle of azote, and the half of a particle of oxygen : fiaally, a 

 volume of ammoniacal gas being composed of a half volume of 

 azote, and a volume and a half of hydrogen, a particle of this 

 ,gas will contain the half of a particle of azote, and a particle 

 and a half of hydrogen. 



If we admit as tlie most simple supposition, (a supposition 

 which appears to me sufficiently justified by the liarmony of the 

 consecjuences which I have deduced from it, with the pliasno- 

 mena) that the particles of oxygen, of azote, and of hydrogen 

 are composed of four molecules ; we shall conchide, that those 

 of the nitrous gas are also compounded of four molecules, two 

 of oxvgeu and two of azote ; those of the gaseous oxide of azote 

 of six molecules, four of azote and two of oxygen ; those of the 

 vapour of water of six molecules, four of hydrogen and two of 

 oxygen ; and those of ammoniacal gas of eight molecules, six 

 of hydrogen, and two of azote. 



The supposition that the particles of chlore are also compounded 

 of four molecules, cannot agree with the phayiomena presented 

 by this gas in its various combinations : we are necessarily led 

 to account for these phenomena, to admit eight molecules in 

 each of its particles, and to sup])ose either that these molecules 

 are of the same nature, or that the particles of chlore contain 

 four molecules of oxygen, and four molecules of an unknown 

 combustible body. 



The first hvpothesis simplifies so much the explanations which 

 are about to follow, that it would be a sufficient reason to use it 

 for that purpose alone, even if wc did not regard it as the most 

 probable. n'o be continued.] 



■■ XII. 01- 



