28 QUALITIES OF COMPOUNDS DEPENDANT ON POLARITY. 



nation of polarity in the arrangement of composition, and to 

 which latitude of variation is to be fairly imputed the change 

 of quality, in the compound influenced by change of the rela- 

 tive proportions of the constituent s, it may be rationally as- 

 sumed that the polarities of the compound molecules of bodies 

 of the GREATEST FIXITY and COHESION, may exercise, in the 

 conformation of alternate atoms, such a change of polarity on 

 their lateral surfaces as to induce a lateral attraction equal to 

 the vertical attraction, and that when such lateral attraction is 

 absent, the body has not tenacity but is frangible, or easily 

 separated by a slight mechanical force ? 



Let us examine known and acknowledged compound bodies, 

 in reference to change of quality, merely from a difference of 

 proportion in the original constituents, which difference must 

 inevitably have also occasioned a change of the polarity as to 

 some of the constituents. 



SUGAR. ACETOUS ACID. 



28 Carbon. 50.224 Carbon. 



8 Hydrogen. 5.C29 Hydrogen. 



64 Oxygen. 44.147 Oxygen. 



100 100.000 



All formed of the same elementary constituents. 



In reference to adhesion I beg to observe, that I have assayed 

 an ore containing copper, zinc, and iron, mineralized with 

 mica, schist, sulphur, argillaceous earth, and quartz, to which 

 I applied the black flux, and with the usual heat of an air fur- 

 nace, and in a Hessian crucible, I obtained a large metallic 

 result, of a dark iron-grey color, with perfectly bright surfaces, 

 which evaded all the power I was capable of applying : with a 

 huge sledge on a smith's anvil, it was impossible to break it, or 

 make the smallest impression on its surface ; it came out from 

 the ordeal unhurt, exhibiting the greatest power of adhesion 

 and proving the effect of combination of many constituents, and 

 such compound evincing the most obstinate lateral and vertical 

 adhesion. 



