On Cliemkal Eqidvaleiils. 1 13 



combine with 1 of carbon =0 75, to form the compound prime 

 2-75 of carbonic acid. We hkevvise know that carbonate of 

 lime consists of 43-6 carbonic acid + 54'4 lime. We therefore 

 make this proportion, to determine the prime equivalent of lime. 



1. 43-6 : 54*4 : : 2-75 : 356= prime of lime. 



2. We know that 100 parts of dry sulphate of lime consist 

 of 4r6 lime and 5S-4 ai-id. Hence, to hnd the prime of sul- 

 phuric acid, we make this proportion : 



41'6 : 5S-4 : :3"56 : 5 = prime of sulphuric acid. 



3. Sir H. Davy obtained from 100 grains of fluor spar in pow- 

 der, acted on with repeated quantities of sulphuric acid, and 

 ignited, 175-2 grains of sulphate of lime. Now, since 100 grains 

 of sulphate of lime contain, as above, 4i*6 of lin»e, we have this 

 proportion : 



100:41-6: : 175-2: 72-SS = lime, correponding to 175-2 

 grains of sulphate, and which previously existed in the 100 grs. 

 of fluorspar. If from 100 we subtract 72-8S, the difference 27*12 

 is the fluoric acid, or the other ingredient of the fluor, which 

 saturated the lime. Now to find its prime equivalent, we say, 



72'S8 : 3-56 : : 27" 12 : 1-325 = the prime or atom of fluoric 

 acid from Sir H. Davy's experiment. Had we taken Dr. Tiiom- 

 son's number 3-62.5, as representing the atom of lime, the atom 

 of fluoric acid would come out 1-3015. As the Doctor had a 

 particular hypothesis to support, which required the weigi)t of 

 the acid atom to be a great deal less, he deduces it, from the 

 same (lata, to be only 10095. By what new process of arith- 

 metic he brought out this number, it i;s impossilde to conjecture. 

 Bnt no doubt he devoted some pains to the computation, since 

 he rears on that unsubstantial basis, a long fabric of atomic 

 induction. 



We shall give another example, derived from a more complex 

 subject. 



M. Vauquelin found, that 33 parts of lime, saturated with 

 sorbic acid, and carefully dried, weighed 100 grains. Mt-nce the 

 difference, 67 grains, was acid. To find its equivalent prime, 

 we sav, 



As '33 : : 67 : : 3 5(5 = the prime of lime : 7-23 = the prime 

 of the acid. But as he brought it to absolute neutrality by a 

 small portion of potash, we may take 7*5 for the prime. 



M. Vau(juelin subjected the acid as it exi^ts in the dry sor- 

 bates of lead and copper, to igneous analysis ; and obtained the 

 following results : 



Hydrogen .. .. Hi-8 



Carbon 2S-3 



Oxygen 54-f> 



Vol. :,7. No. 274. /;//. 1821. V Now 



