1815.] Elements of OrgaJiic Nature are combhied. 9i 



Hydrogen 0*244 



Carbon 3S-222 



Oxygen 66-534 



100-000 



It follows from these reflections, that in an oxalate whose hase 

 contains only a single volume of oxygen, the hydrogen of the itcid 

 is combined with six volumes of the radicle of the' base. When 

 on the other side the base contains two volumes of oxygen, the 

 hydrogen of the acid is combined with three volumes of the radicle 

 of the hase. When the base contains three volumes of oxvi-en, 

 then the hydrogen is combined with two volumes of radicle. 'This 

 may be seen in the following formulas, representing the oxalate of 

 copper, the oxalate of lead, and the pcjoxalate of iron. 



6 Cu O + H C'2 0'» 



3 PI O* + H C'2 0'« 

 2 Fe 03 + H C- C 



Let us now examine the result of the analysis of this acid by 

 Gay-Lussac and Thenard. They employed in it oxalate of lime 

 dried in the temperature of boiling water. This oxalate in that 

 state contains water of combination, the quantity of which deter- 

 mined both by the experiments of Mr. Vogel of Bayreuth, and by 

 calculation, is such, that it contains a quantity of oxvgen equal 

 to that in the lime; that is, very nearly 12 per cent. Therefore 

 the oxalic acid used in their experiments consisted of 80 pure acid 

 + 20 water. If we take away these 20 of water, that is to say, 2-35 

 hydrogen, and 1775 oxygen, from the result af the analysis of 

 Gay-Lussac and Thenard, wc have 



Risultof Gaj-Lnssac and Thenard. Do. corrected. 



Hydrogen 2-745 0-493 



Carbon 2G-J66 33'217 



Oxygen 70'689 G6"290 



100-000 100-000 



This result agrees so well with my experiments, that it serves to 

 confirm what I have advanced above.*-' 



4. Siuxinlc acid. — I purified succinic acid from the empyreu- 



• Dr. Thomson in the Pliilnsoijliiral Trans.iclion'; for 1807, has ^ivc-n an analysis 

 af oxalic acid made by dry dibtiHatiou and ihe analysis of llie products. He fuund 

 it cuHipubcd of 



Hyflrngen 4 



Carlton 39 



Oxygen 64 



100 



I nm asloiitkhcd lliut he cnnld Imvc mine 8o nenr Ike truth notwithatatidiiig the 

 ilillicultivt of thu method Which !.e followed, 



V, 2 



