[ 20 ] [BookVL 



fc H A P. IV. 



NEUTRAL SALTS. 



The Union of an Add and Alkali dejlroys tht corrofae Quality cfeacb.Z 

 Neutral Salts do not communicate the f aline Quality to other Bodies. 

 Cryftalline Form boixj deccmfofed, 



NATURAL productions pafs by gradations 

 into each other j and I might have given 

 an account of the primitive earths immediately after 

 that of the alkalies, as thefe fubftances have fcveral 

 properties in common, particularly that of uniting with 

 acids, and forming neutral compounds. Metals alfo 

 are capable of being united with acids, and of form- 

 ing with them faline fubftances. A lucid order will 

 however be better preferved, by at prefent confining 

 our attention to the confideration of fuch neutral bo- 

 dies as are formed by the union of an acid and an 

 alkali. 



To a perfoh unacquainted with chemiftry, it is a 

 ftriking circumftance that two acrid and corrofive 

 fubftances fhould' by their union form a compound 

 very mild and inactive* Such however is the cafe, 

 and what is (till more remarkable, their previous acri- 

 mony, and tendency to combine, renders the neutral 

 body proper tionably more inoffenfive. Thus an alkali 

 united with vitriolic acid, may be received into the 

 'body with much lefs caution than when combined 

 with the Serial or carbonic acid. The neutral fairs in 

 general have not fo ftrong a tafte as the fimple, their 

 tendency to combination and their folubility being lefs 

 confiderable ; but the criterion, which more efpecially 

 diilinguiihes them from the former, is, that they can- 

 not, 



