292 Dr. Macneven's Exposition of ^ [Oct. 



above result, as well by this useful canon of Berzelins, as by his 

 analysis, since 50 : 10 :: 5 : 1. The integrant particle of yttria 

 is 5, and deducting 1 oxygen, the atom yttrium = 4, 



51. G/ttciiiitm. — The sulphate of glucina, by the experiments 

 of Berzelius, is composed of 



Sulphuric acid lOO'O 



Glucina 64-1 



Considering the sulphate as formed by the union of particle to 

 particle, the weight of an integrant particle of glucina is deter- 

 mined by that of sulphvmc acid as 100 : 64'1 :: 5 weight of the 

 integrant particle of sulphuric acid : 3"205, integrant particle of 

 glucina. And as 64- 1 parts glucina saturate 1 00 parts sulphuric 

 acid, they contain 20 parts oxygen, and we obtain the oxygen in 

 an integrant particle of glucina by the proportion as 64-1 ; 20 :: 

 3-205 : 1 ; consequently 3-205 — 1 = 2-205 weight of an atom 

 ofglucinum. 



52. Aluminum. — The weight of the atom of aluminum is also 

 determined from the experiments of Berzelius by means of the 

 sulphate. It consists of 



Acid 100-0 



Alumina 42-722 



Hence as 100 : 42-722 :: 5: 2-115; and the oxygen in 2-115 is in 

 the same proportion as in 42-722, that is as 42-7222 : 20 :: 2-115 

 : 1, and 2*115 — 1 oxygen = 1-115 weight of an atom of 

 aluminum. 



53. Zirconium. — As no very accurate analyses of the union of 

 acids and zirconia have been made, the number for an atom of 

 zirconium, deduced from the analyses of Klaproth and Vauque- 

 lin, can only be considered as an approximation. From the 

 analyses of those chemists, we are led to consider the weight of 

 a particle of zirconia as represented by 5-G25, and supposing it 

 the lowest union of oxygen and zirconium, for we know no 

 lower ; the weight of the atom of zirconium is found — 4-620 

 by deducting 1, the weight of oxygen. 



54. Iron. — The weight of an atom of iron may be obtained 

 from the salts which it forms, by applying to them the canon of 

 Berzelius, that an acid will combine only so far with a base as its 

 oxygen bears a proportion to the oxygen of the acid. In all 

 combinations of sulphuric acid and a base, no matter in what 

 quantity we take one, the oxygen of the acid must be to that of 

 the base as 60 : 20. Different acids have difterent proportions 

 with regard to their oxygen, and that of the base Avith which they 

 unite. As, for instance, the oxygen in carbonic acid is always 

 to that of the base with which it unites as 72-73 nearly is to 

 36-267. 



This is a most important law, and merits constant attention, 

 from the great variety of cases to which it is applicable. Pro- 



