1813.] Definite Proportions In Chemical Combinations. 299 



Number of Weight of an 



atoms. integrant particle. 



199. Sulphate of uranium 1 s + 1 a . .20*000 k 



200. Persulphate of platinum ..2 s + 1 p 24.--161 ' 



These 37 are all the sulphates which I can venture to insert 

 into the table. The remaining sulphates have been so imper- 

 fectly examined that we are still ignorant of the proportions in 

 which their constituents unite. I think there is reason to believe 

 that neither the oxides of arsenic, tungsten, molybdenum, nor 

 chromium, combine with sulphuric acids so as to form sulphates. 

 The oxides of these metals possess properties more analogous to 

 acids than to bases. I think the same observation applies to the 

 oxides of antimony. Probably a sulphate of tin exists; but it 

 lias never been analysed. The same observation applies to the 

 sulphate of gold. The other metals, namely, palladium, rho- 

 dium, iridium, osmium, tellurium, coiumblum, and cerium, are 

 still too scarce to expect an accurate knowledge of the salts 

 which their oxides are capable oi forming. 



We have it now in our power to examine into one of the 

 canons advanced by Berzefius, and upon which he has laid a 

 great deal of stress in some of his late chemical dissertations. 

 1 lis canon is, that when two bodies containing oxygen combine, 

 the quantity of oxygen in each is equal, or the quantity of 

 oxygen in the one is twice, thrice, four times, &c. as great 

 as the quantity in the other. 



The following table exhibits the respective quantities of oxy- 

 gen in each of the constituents of all the sulphates the compo- 

 sition of which we have just given. 



Weight of oxygen Ditto in the 



in the acid. base. 



1 . Sulphate of potash 3 1 



2. Supersulphate of potash .... 6 1 



would be composed of 58*726 acid + 47274' oxide. A coinci- 

 dence as near as could be expected. 



k According to the analysis of Bucholz, sulphate of uranium 

 consists of 22*1 acid + 77*9 peroxide. If the statement in the 

 table be correct, it should be composed of 2.5 acid 4- 75 oxide. 



1 According to the analysis of Berzelius (Larbok i Ktmlcn, ii. 

 .it is composed of 4l : 22S acid + 58*777 peroxide 

 of platinum. Now if the supposition in the table be true, it 

 ought to consist of 41*389 acid + 68*611 acid; a proportion 

 winch almost coincides with the numbers obtained by Berzelius 

 experimentally. 

 l 



