. 

 OF THE ATOMIC THEORY. 35 



atom of oxygen ; and consequently contains in 

 reality two atoms, I have seldom applied the 

 term atom to any of the salts ; but if it were so 

 applied, it would denote a substance containing 

 a considerable number of atoms. Thus, an atom 

 or integrant particle of sulphate of ammonia, is 

 composed of 



1 atom sulphuric acid 5 

 1 atom ammonia . 2-12.5 

 1 atom water . 1-125 



8-25 



| 



An integrant particle of sulphuric acid contains 

 4 atoms ; an integrant particle of ammonia con. 

 tains 4< atoms ; and an integrant particle of 

 water contains 2 atoms. So that an atom, or 

 integrant particle of sulphate of ammonia con- 

 tains no fewer than 10 atoms. 



I doubt not, that this loose mode of applying 

 the term atom will appear to many of my 

 readers an improper liberty, and quite inconsis. 

 tent with the precision necessary in chemical 

 discussions. But my reason for doing so was, 

 that I am of opinion, that we are not at present 

 acquainted with any truly simple bodies. All 

 our simple bodies are most probably compounds ; 

 and many of them may be afterwards decom* 

 pounded and reduced to more simple principles 

 by the future labours of chemists. If this opinion 

 be true, I could not have employed the term 



C2 



