Fdssifo* 159 



name of the radical contained in each may 

 with propriety designate each particular 

 acid. Thus sulphur is the radical of the 

 acid we name sulphuric, phosphorus that 

 of the phosphoric, carbon that of the 

 carbonic, and so on. 



Acidifrable radicals may contain differ- 

 ent quantities of oxygen, .and under this 

 point of view they possess two states of 

 acidity. The first is that, in which they 

 contain the least possible quantity of oxy- 

 gen to render them acid. In this their 

 acidity is commonly weak, and they adhere 

 but feebly to the bases with which they 

 are capable of forming salts. The mod- 

 ern methodical nomenclature designates 

 this state of combination and acidity ^ by 

 giving the names of these weak acids the 

 termination ous. Thus w r e say the sulphu- 

 rous, nitrous, phosphorous, or acetous^ 

 acid. The second state of acids is that,, 

 in which they contain more oxygen, and 

 in general are completely saturated with 

 it. In this they have all the strength and 

 attraction they are capable of possessing 

 as acids, and the modern nomenclature 

 expresses it by the termination zc. Thus 

 we say the sulphuric, nitric, phosphoric,, 



