EXAMPLES. 219 



phuric acid for water, they were in a certain 

 measure compelled to unite in this form ; and in 

 consequence of this, the carbon of wood was 

 separated as charcoal. 



Hydrocyanic acid, and mater., in contact with 

 hydrochloric acid, are mutually decomposed. The 

 nitrogen of the hydrocyanic acid, and a certain 

 quantity of the hydrogen of the water, unite to- 

 gether and form ammonia ; whilst the carbon and 

 hydrogen of the hydrocyanic acid combine with the 

 oxygen of the water, and form formic acid. The 

 ammonia combines with the muriatic acid. Here 

 the contact of muriatic acid with water and hydro- 

 cyanic acid causes a disturbance in the attraction 

 of the elements of both compounds, in consequence 

 of which they arrange themselves into new com- 

 binations, one of which ammonia possesses the 

 power of uniting with the acting body. 



Inorganic chemistry can present instances analo- 

 gous to this class of decomposition also ; but there 

 are forms of organic chemical decomposition of a 

 very different kind, in which none of the compo- 

 nent parts of the matter which suffers decomposition 

 enters into combination with the body which de- 

 termines the decomposition. In cases of this kind 

 a disturbance is produced in the mutual attraction 

 of the elements of a compound, and they in conse- 

 quence arrange themselves into one or several new 

 combinations, which are incapable of suffering 

 further change under the same conditions. 



