f>6 On Chemjcdl Equivalents. 



ill proportltMis corresponding to these numbers, but also fre^ 

 quently in multiple or submultiple proportions. We have there- 

 fore two distinct propositions on this interesting subject. 



1st, The general reciprocity of the saturating proportions. 



2d, The multiple and submultiple proportions of prime equi- 

 valents, in whicli any one body may unite with any other body, td 

 constitute successive binary compounds. 



The first proposition, or grand law of chemical combination^ 

 was discovered by J. B. Richter of Berlin, about the year 1792. 

 The second, of equal importance, and more recondite, was dis- 

 covered so early as the year 1790, by Mr. W. Higgins. 



Richter inferred his from the remarkable and well established 

 fact, that two neutral salts, in reciprocally decomposing each 

 other, give birth to two new saline compounds, always perfectly 

 neutral. Thus, sulphate of soda being added to muriate of lime, 

 will produce perfectly neutral su!])hate of lime and muriate of 

 soda. The conclusions he drew were, 1st, That the quantities 

 of two alkaline bases, adequate to neutralize equal weights of 

 any one acid, are proportional to the quantities of the same 

 bases, requisite to neutralize the same weights of every other acid. 

 For example, G parts of potash, or 4 of soda, neutralize 5 of sul^ 

 phuric acid ; and 4*4 of potash are adequate to the saturation of 

 5 of nitric acid. Therefore, to find the quantity of soda equiva- 

 lent to the saturation of this weight of nitric acid, we need not 

 make experiments, but merely compute it by the proportional 

 rule of Richter. Thus, as 6 : 4*4 : : 4 : 2-93 ; or in words, as the 

 potash equivalent to the sulphuric acid, is to the potash equiva- 

 lent to the nitric acid, so is the soda equivalent to the first, to . 

 the soda e(|uivalent to the second. And again, if 6*5 potash sa- 

 turate 5 of muriatic acid gas, how much soda, by Richter's rule, 

 will be required for the same eflfect ? We say 6 : 6*5 : : 4 : : 4*3* 

 3dly, If 10"9 potash combine with 3 of carbonic acid, how much 

 soda will be equivalent to that effect ? Now, G : 10'9 : : 4 : 7*26. 

 Here, therefore, we have found, that if 6 potash be equivalent to 

 4 soda, in saturating 5 of sulphuric acid, this ratio of G to 4, or 

 .'> to 2, will pervade all the possible saline combinations ; so that 

 whatever be the quantity of potash, requisite to saturate 5, 10, 

 ivc. of any other acid, two-thirds of that quantity of soda will 

 sullice. 



In the same manner let us find out, for five of sulphuric, or of 

 any one standard acid, the saturating quantity of ammonia, mag- 

 nesia, lime, strontites, barytes, peroxide of copper, and the other 

 bases; then their proportions to potash, thus ascertained, for 

 this acid, will, by arithmetical reduction, give their saturating 

 quantity of every other acid, whose relation to potash, or indeed 

 to any one of these bases, is known. 



The 



