on the Use of Chemical Symbols. 249 



or oxygenated water, one of two things must occur, viz. that 

 half an atom may be confounded with a whole one, or to pre- 

 vent it, the innovation must be explained in words which 

 will occupy more time and space than the meaning of the 

 symbol written at full length. 



It is singular that Mr. Prideaux should allow of such inno- 

 vations in a system which he had previously represented as 

 absolutely perfect, and as "exhibiting, in signs no less natural 

 than compact, the entire constitution of the substance through 

 all the grades of analysis." — Phil. Mag. and Annals, N.S. 

 vol. x. p. 104. 



After alluding to some embarrassment attendant upon the 

 use of chemical symbols, Mr. Prideaux adds, " but in the 

 specimen given (at p. 445) there is confusion of another kind, 

 originating, apparently, in the specimen itself. The common 

 ingredient oxygen, is represented in very different propor- 

 tions," which Mr. Prideaux accordingly proceeds to prove. 

 Now, as I am the author of the specimen alluded to, the con- 

 fusion must have originated with me, and not " in the speci- 

 men itself." I think, however, Mr. Prideaux might have seen 

 that my intention was not to describe a salt the composition 

 of which was open to discussion, but an imaginary com- 

 pound, as to the constitution of which all should agree. Still, 

 however, I shall reply to Mr. Prideaux's objections to state- 

 ments which I neither did nor intended to make. " Rose 

 and Johnstone," he says, " would doubtless place 2 before 

 the symbol of soda." Very likely ; but then they would have 



written P, while I have given P to express an acid " in which 



many chemists (chiefly in this country) apprehend the phos- 

 phorus to enter as a single atom," and therefore only one 

 atom of soda to form phosphate of soda. 



Mr. Prideaux then goes on to "correct, or rather restore," 

 the symbols for crystallized phosphate of soda, which I have 

 either mistaken or mutilated; and thus mended, they are stated 

 to be as follows: 



"Rose 2NaO + PO + 24HO. 



Turner.... So + P + 2iO + I2aq. 



Johnstone P + So + 24H. 



My scale So 2 Ph Aq"*, they all harmonize with 



Berzelius Ma 9 P + 24 H, and are a common language 

 of science, applicable to all nations, and easily acquired." 



If, as Mr. Prideaux asserts, these symbols exhibit har- 

 Tkird Series. Vol. 4. No. 22. April 1834. 2 K 



