TARTARIC ACID. Ill 



a quantity too small to enter as a constituent 

 into the acid. Berzclius himself considers this 

 acid as composed of 



18 atoms oxygen =18 



12 atoms carbon = 9 



1 atom hydrogen 0-125 



27-125 



This would raise the atomic weight of the acid 

 to 27*125, a quantity which, by Berzelius' own 

 acknowledgment, is 6 times greater than the 

 truth. In reality his analysis of the acid would 

 give its constitution as follows : 



33 atoms oxygen =33 

 22 atoms carbon = 16-5 



1 atom hydrogen = 0-125 



49-625 



And the atomic weight would be 11 times 

 greater than the truth.* 



SECT. II. 



OF THE ATOMIC WEIGHT OF TARTARIC ACID. 



THIS acid, which is obtained by the decomposi- 

 tion of cream of tartar, forms large but irregular 



* BerzcliiiM has lately satisfied himself that oxalic acid contains no hy- 

 drogen. See Ann, de Chim. et dc Phys, XVIII. loo. 



