fifty elements must be doubled (Am. Jour. Science, XXXI % 246). More recent- 

 ly, prompted by CANIZZARO, the disciples of GERHARDT have almost unanimously 

 renounced such opinions on comparative atomic weights as are at variance 

 with those of BERZELIUS. 



The meaning of the new notation having thus been definitely fixed, while the 

 nomenclature may be said to be still in the transition state, an atomic system 

 of names, intended to supply the place both of the notatiovi and the. old nomen- 

 clature, is submitted for candid and critical examination. A leading considera- 

 tion has been to produce a system which will assist the stutent in acquiring 

 and retaining a knowledge of fundamental laws : also to provide such brief 

 technical terms as will enable chemists generally to express their views with 

 more conciseness. 



Doubtless the most rapid advance has been made by students who have daily 

 witnessed the operations of the laboratory. ]S 7 o oral description of chemical 

 experiments could make so deep and permanent an impression. This principle 

 of retention was well appreciated and expressed by HORACE : 



Segnius irritant animos demissa per aurera, 

 Quam quae sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus. 



Next in importance to experimental knowledge, must be ranked a system of 

 words and symbols which will convey, at sight, by means of their combinations, 

 a clear idea of the union of the elements, without denoting in every instance 

 by rational formulae the manner of such union. The ear also should be brought 

 into service in such a system, by making the very sound of the symbols so 

 excite the power of association as to bring before "the mind's eye" the whole 

 series of similar and nearly related compounds. To accomplish these objects, 

 it was necessary to construct an entirely new scheme, by providing for every 

 well-investigated chemical body a name which should at once designate the 

 kind and number of atoms composing it, and to a certain extent its typical and 

 functional characteristics. This work was accomplished in a true conservative 

 spirit, by building the new structure from old materials, and upon a foundation 

 which is the result of the combined labors of those truly great men who have 

 devoted their lives to the advancement of Chemical science. 



The method of construction will be briefly explained under the following 

 heads : 



1. The system is based on abbreviations of the universally received names 

 of the metals, and on the chemical symbols of the metalloids or non-metallic 

 elements, with such modifications as were imperatively required. 



2. The name of each chemical element relates, not to its mass, but only to 

 a minimum combining proportion termed an atom, or to some multiple of it. 

 The atom is therefore the unit of measurement, and the starting point of the 

 scale in each series of compounds. 



3. The atomic name of each metal consists of two syllables, and ends with 

 the consonant m. 



4. The name of each of the thirteen metalloids terminates with a different 

 consonant. Arsenic and tellurium, classed by French chemists among the me- 

 talloids, have in this arrangement the terminal letter common to the metals. 



5. The number of atoms of any element is designated by the vowel imme- 

 diately preceding its terminal consonant. The numerical power of the vowels 



