92 On the Chemical Constitution of 



sary result. The oxygen and hydrogen might each have requhed 

 the quantity of sulphur with which they combine, — that is, the 

 existing relations might have been those of sulphur to oxygen, 

 and sulphur to hydrogen, in their several proportions. It is other- 

 wise ; there is tlie relation of sulphur to oxygen, and in addition 

 to this of hydrogen to the same sulphur. And thus, since the 

 same quantity of sulphur receives the acidifying influence of both 

 elements, we discover the source of the higher degree of acid 

 power. How water should augment acidity, no principle enables 

 us to conjecture. But how the joint operation of two elements 

 acting on the same quantity of radical which each of them se- 

 parately is capable of rendering acid, should augment the effect, 

 is easily perceived. And even from this consideration alone, there 

 can remain little hesitation in admitting the conclusion, that both 

 these elements act directly on the sulphur, — in other words, that 

 the three are in simultaneous combination. 



As there is no proof of the existence of oxide of sulphur, and 

 as no such compound as that denominated real sulphuric acid, 

 composed of 100 of sulphur with 150 of oxygen, can be obtained 

 insulated, it might be supposed that the hypothesis of such com- 

 binations ought to be excluded ; and that the strict fact only 

 should be admitted, of the two compounds which constitute sul- 

 phurous and sulphuric acids. 



There is one ground, however, on which it may be inferred that 

 a relation of sulphur to oxygen, in the proportion of 100 to 150, 

 exists. When sulphuric acid is acted on bv a base neutralizing 

 it, its hydrogen combines with a portion of its oxygen forming- 

 water. The quantity of oxygen thus abstracted is .50, and, of 

 course, the above proportion remains ; and this being admitted, 

 the existence of oxide of sulphur, it mav be supposed, must also 

 be assumed to bring the results under the law of definite propor- 

 tions. And the combinations of oxvgen to sulphur will still be 

 in the ratio of 1, 2, 3, 4. 



This conclusion, however, does not follow ; for in cases where 

 this apparent result happens, the oxvgen which is abstracted 

 forming water is replaced bv the oxygen of the base, and makes 

 up the proportion of 200 to 100 of sul})hur ; and the new com- 

 pound is a ternary coml)ination of these elements in these pro- 

 portions with the ir'Ctallic radical of the base. A single example 

 will illustrate this. ,'50-7 of common sulphuric acid require for 

 saturation 69-() of oxide of lead; the former is composed of 10 

 of sulphur with 20 of oxygen, and 0-7 of hvdrogen, the latter of 

 64'6 of lead with .3 of oxygen. The hydrogen in their mutual 

 action abstracts 5 of oxygen forming water, and there remain 

 20 of oxygen, 10 of sulphur, and ()4"fi of lead in combination. 

 The same result is established in all other cases, and they afford 



no 



