1821.] Chemical Compounds by Algebraic Characters. 213 



(ao 5 ) (ah 3 ) nitrate ammonia, 



(co") (Po) carbonate potash, 



(co' 1 ) (ah') carbonate ammonia, 



(co*) - (Po) bicarbonate of potash,* 



ho water, 



ah 3 ammonia, 



po potash, 



co carbonic oxide, 



co 2 carbonic acid, 



ch olefiant gas, 



c/t 4 carburetted hydrogen. 



'& v 



In order to give some idea of the facility which this notion 

 affords when chemical decompositions take place, we will give a 

 few examples. 



The decomposition of nitrate of ammonia by heat vised to 

 obtain the nitrous oxide would be expressed as follows : («o 5 ) 

 (ah 3 ) = (ao) 1 (ho) 3 , which is two atoms of nitrous oxide, and 

 three atoms of water. At one view, it will be seen that the ele- 

 ments are the same on each side the sign of equality ; and if 

 numbers be substituted for the letters, add them together on each 

 side, and the sums will be equal. In instances where mutual 

 decomposition takes place, the sign of equality is made to 

 separate the quantities before and after decomposition. In the 

 action of chlorine upon a solution of potash, let C = chlorine. 

 Then C 5 (Ao) 4 (pof = (Ch po)* (Co 5 p) — four atoms of muriate 

 of potash, and one of chlorate of potash. 



When chemical changes take place among gaseous bodies, it 

 is common to state their proportions by volumes. This will be 

 easily managed when the specific gravity of the gases are known. 

 This can be ascertained by experiment; but some very curious 

 facts have lately come to light, showing a remarkable connec- 

 tion between the specific gravity of a gas and the weight of its 

 atom. When hydrogen is made unity, the weight of the atom 

 of a gas is either equal to the specific gravity, or some multiple 

 of the same by a whole number.^ 



The following table will show the weight of the atom and the 

 specific gravity : 



Atoms. Sp. Gr. 



Oxygen o . . . . o- 



Hydrogen h h 



Azote a .... a 



Chlorine C . . . . C 



• This parenthesis is used to distinguish the acid from the base ; and when more than 

 one atom of acid occurs, an exponent would be used. Indeed, where no exponent is 

 used, it must be conceived equal to 1. Then a = « l and (co 1 ) = (co')'. 



•f The relation of the specific gravity to the weightof the atom I pointed out to Mr. Dal- 

 ton, Dr. Henry, and to l>r. Thomson, long before the account of it was published by 

 Dr. Prout in Thomson'* Annuls. 



