T. S. Hunt on Chemical Classification. WT 
Oxygen, . ‘ ‘ . ‘ ‘ (OO) =1 vol. 
Hydrogen, . < : ‘ d (HH)=1 vol. 
Chlorine, ‘ , : , - (Cl Cl)=1 vol. 
Hydrochloric acid, basth ah ‘ (HC1l)=1 vol. 
Hypochlorous acid, . . 3 (Cl H)O=1 vol. 
Chloric acid, . i ade goin (CHR) * 1 vok 
Phosph. Hydrogen, . ‘ . (PH) (HH)=1 vol. 
Hypophosphites, _. i CPR = T vol. 
Phosphites, .. , - .(PH)(MM)O, =1 vol. 
Phosphates, ‘ 4 (PM) (MM)O, =1 vol. 
Acetic atid, . . * ¢....2) Cal beet) (EO aed vol. 
Acid chlorinated, . » GC, (AH) (HCO, = iavot 
Acid bichlorinated, ‘ C,(HH)(C1C1)O, =1 vol. 
Acid trichlorinated . . ©,(HC1) (Cl C1)O, =1 vol.” 
This last hypothesis I present a8 one of the deductions of the 
author from his views, but it seems to me hardly warranted. The 
pits Sa Sh of the idea of the binary arrangement of at- 
oms to the explanation of the affinities exhibited by bodies in the 
nascent state, is very beautiful and ingenious. 
“If we place together two free molecules of bromine and hy- 
drogen (BB’) and (HH’), the affinity of B for B’ and of H for H’ 
will perhaps be sufficient to oppose the combination of B and B’ 
with H and H’, but if only B and H were present, these two at- 
oms not having to overcome any affinity would readily combine. 
This is what takes place, for example, if hydrogen is in the nascent 
state, as when we decompose hydrochloric acid by a metal, for 
we have HC1+M=CIM+H, which tends to reconstitute itself 
into a binary molecule by combining either with bromine or anoth- 
er molecule of “hydrogen.” ‘“ With sulphuric acid SH, O, and 
a metal, the reaction is the same and the hydrogen is nascent or 
atomic, for it first forms an acid salt, eliminating H and not (HH); 
when the acid salt is formed, the second atom will be in its turn 
disengaged.” 
The binary molecule of the metals, hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, 
&c., will be seen to be the type of an immense number of com- 
binations embracing the various alloys and amalgams, the hydra- 
cids like hydrochloric acid and their corresponding salts and such 
compounds as Cl Brand Cl I. The compound represented by 
ICI, is referable to a triple molecule of these elements represented 
by H6 or (HHHHHH); to this same type belong the perchlorids 
of antimony, arsenic and phosphorus, while the correspondi 
trichlorids form a double molecule. In all of these it will be ob- 
served that the molecular composition is preserved inviolate, all of 
the inorganie compounds into which the second group of ele- 
ments enter, furnish a sum of atoms divisible by 2. In the ox- 
ygenized bodies on the contrary, we have a type whieh is compo- 
sed of three atoms. M. Laurent’s law is thus seen to be equally 
applicable to other compounds, than those denominated organic. 
