CHAR VIII. 



OF THE ATOMIC WEIGHTS OF THE FIXED 

 ALKALIES AND ALKALINE EARTHS. 



THE atomic weights of the simple bodies which 

 constitute the bases of the acids, have been de- 

 termined in the preceding chapters. I propose 

 in the five following chapters to investigate the 

 atomic weights of the bases of the alkaline 

 bodies, including under the term alkali, all bases 

 which are capable of neutralizing acids. 



The substances usually distinguished by the 

 name tfjixed alkalies and alkaline earths, are 



1 Potash 4 Barytes 7 Magnesia 



2 Soda 5 Strontian 



3 Lithia 6 Lime 



Sir H. Davy first showed that these bodies are 

 compounds of oxygen, with certain white 

 coloured solid metals, which have so strong an 

 affinity for oxygen that they can with difficulty 

 be preserved in the metallic state. Indeed, if 

 we except potassium and sodium, the remainder, 

 as far as utility is concerned, may be considered 

 as still unknown ; for they cannot be procured 

 in such quantities as to be susceptible of useful 

 applications. The fixed alkalies and alkaline 



