4:50 



submitted it to ;ui algebraical formula. They called the active mass, 

 tin- number if molecules occiin inu' in a given volume, and allowed, as 

 follows from the spirit of Berthollet's teaching, ilia! the action be- 

 tween tin- substances was ctjual to the product of the masses of the 

 reacting substances. Hence if the salts MX and NY be taken in 

 equivalent quantities (m 1 and n=I) and the salts MY and XX are 

 not added to the mixture but proceed from it. then if / represent the 

 coetlicient of the ratio of the action of .MX on NY and if /,' represent 

 the same coefficient for the pair .MY and NX. then we shall have at the 

 moment \vhen the decomposition equals .'' a measure of action for the 

 first pair : / ( 1 ..') ( 1 .'') and for the second pair / ,<,'', and a state of 

 equilibrium or limit will be reaehed when / ( 1 .,)- = !. './-, whence the 

 i-atio / /, =[".'' i 1 .')']-. Therefore in the case of the action of alcohol 

 on an acid, when .'' r! the magnitude, / // I. that i-, the reaction of 

 alcohol on the acid is four times greater than that of the ethereal salt 

 on water. If the ratio /'/'' be known, then ///'- Injlm-no of iiHtsu ///"// 

 //' cdsi/i/ <l< l< I'ml id from it. Thus if instead of one molecule of 

 alcohol two be taken, then the equation will be L\ -.'} ( 1 ./) />',-./. 

 whence ./ = (.l-S.") or S5 p.c., which is close to tlie result of experiment. 

 If .">00 molecules of alcohol be taken, then ,< proves to be approximately 

 100 p.c., which is also found to be the case bv e.vperiment.- 1 ' 



lUit it is impossible to subject the formation of salts to anv process 

 direct Iv analogous to that which is so conveniently ellected in etheriti- 

 catioii. Many eilbrts have, however, been made to solve the problem 

 of the measure of reaction in this case also. Thus, for example. 

 Khichinsky (isiir,^ Petrietl' ( 1 S^O), and many othei-s investigated the 

 distribution of metals and haloid groups in the case of one metal and 

 several haloids taken in excess, as acids ; or converselv with an excess of 

 bases, the distribution of these bases with relation to an acid ; in cases 

 when- a port ion ot the substances forms a precipitate and a port ion occurs 

 in -olution. llut such complex cases, although thev in general confirm 

 1 Jert hollet s teaching (for instance. ;i solution of silver nitrate gives a 

 port ion of silver oxide with lead oxide, and a sol ui ion of nit rate of lead 

 precipitate^ a portion of lead oxide under the action of -liver oxide, as 

 iVtrieH' demoiist rat ed), -till, owinu t o the complexity of the phenomena 

 (for instance, the formation ot basic and double salt-), thev cannot <r ive 



" Kn.in llif i)li\<' it I-!!-'.'.- tli.it ,m c\cc - .,) ;,,,. 1 ^lumld iiiMui-ncc tin- rcactuni lil<r 



.; ..;,.!,..!. It tw. im.li-i ill.- nf iin-tii: ni-iil In- lalii-n In MIM- mnli-ruli- <>f alcohol. 



IH-II it i inli-cd houn i.y cx|'critni'iit tlnit ^1 |>.c. ol' nlcoln-l is ctlirnlird. If with ;i 

 ni--(. |,p-]M.ii(lfr,iin-i' "I' siciil or ot iilcolml ct-riiiiii <li > iv| ,,, nci. . arc O)IS.T\ r ( |, then their 

 ,111 emu 1 lie looked |'or ill tin' ilicoinjilete re endilalice ot t lie condil ion- and outside 

 ntllleliee .. 



