266 Mr. G. Gore. [Jan. 17, 



found of which, the largest proportion is required to move the needles, 

 that is the one which has the smallest proportion of voltaic energy, 

 and which has its constituents chemically united in definite proportion 

 by weight without an excess of either ingredient in a chemically free 

 state. 



The following is an example. The combining proportion is the 

 one which gives the smallest amount of voltaic energy, and its 

 formula is indicated by a star (*). 



55 

 50 



) 4 + 3KNO 3 58 



100K 2 SO 4 + KNO 3 870 



. . . 2,132 



Average. 

 Between 1 part in Temp. 1 part in 



10,333 and 11,350 parts of water at 20 C 10,841 



K 2 SO 4 + 100KNO 3 .. 163 182 172 



60 18 .... 57 



54 . .. 52 



64 .... 61 



975 20 .... 922 



2,396 12 .... 2,274 



The compound is represented by the molecular formula 

 K 2 S0 4 ,2KN0 3 . 



By means of a number of suitable examples of this kind, the 

 author shows that the dissolved substances unite together in the 

 definite proportions by weight of their ordinary chemical equivalents. 

 The results of several experiments indicate the existence of multiple 

 combining proportion in a feeble degree. 



Evidence is given of the existence in solution of compounds 

 represented by the formula? KC1,C1, KBr,Br, and KI,I, and these 

 results are confirmed by means of comparative colour measurements. 



The question of the limit of complexity of chemical combination of 

 substances whilst in solution together in water is experimentally 

 investigated, and although a definite compound was formed having 

 the formula K 2 S0 4 ,16KN0 3 ,4AmCl,2XaCl,8KCl,32LiCl, the limit of 

 possible complexity did not appear to be nearly reached. 



With regard to the general question, does every electrolytic sub- 

 stance when dissolved in water unite in definite proportions by weight 

 with every other such dissolved substance ? The author states that 

 he has examined by the foregoing method more than 180 different 

 mixtures of such bodies, but has not found one in which definite 

 chemical union is not more or less clearly indicated by a minimum 

 amount of voltaic energy, coinciding with the proportions of the 

 ordinary chemical equivalents of the substances. The mixtures he 

 examined included all classes of these substances, viz., of elements 

 with elements; elements with monobasic, bibasic, and tribasic acids; 

 acids of all these classes with each other ; elements with monobasic, 



