and some of its Products of Decomposition. 333 



w> (J J. 



the form , volume and density of 



>/ 



? 



»/ 



use another form of expression 

 attributes of the atoms 7 the) 



tinguishing properties of the masses, is every day acquiring a 

 more profound significance. 



The chemical and physical differences between phosphoric, 

 pyrop hosp horic and metaphosphoric acids, are but the counter- 

 parts of different forms, volumes and densities assumed by the 

 same elements in the same relative proportions. 



»/ 



fulminic 



of m 



It is well known that the several members of groups of isomor- 

 phous bodies ; — the alums for example, have many chemical and 



physical attributes in common. 

 and volume* 



ft 



It requires but a little expansion of the thought naturally aris- 

 ing from the consideration of these facts, to come upon the en- 

 quiry : are not acids as such, indebted for their distinguishing 

 characteristic to a common peculiarity of form among their atoms ; 

 and bases to another for theirs, and salts to another for theirs ?f 



Let this conception be entertained for the moment, and connect 

 with the peculiarities of glycocoll the following considerations. 



1- We have alreadv seen that elvcocoll contains the elements 

 °f fumarate of a 



C. H. NO.=NH., 0. HO 



m 



ethyl : 



cyanate of hydrated oxyd of 



C 4 H 4 N0 3 =C 2 H 4 2 ,C 3 NO, 



a sugar in which alcohol and carbonic acid are replaced by wood- 



and 



The effort to obtain methyl alcohol by slow distillation of gly- 

 cocoll from a solution in strong potash, failed. 



* Mitscherlich and Kopp. 



1 The following interesting relationship may be worth recording. 



C* H 3 fj0 3 = glycocoll. 



C 4 H 3 J0 3 X 3= grape sugar. 



C 4 H 3 O* ° 3 ~ SUgar ° f lead * 



C 4 H 3 jJ 03 = | oxyd of glyceryls 



C 4 H 3 S 3 H0= nitrous ether. 



of th e ? e bodies have similar taste. Is it dependent upon the similar arrangement 

 lh eir smallest particles? , M 



Y* 1 * is here reminded of the large number of acids of this formula (R) -f-0 3 . 

 u the sourness of this class dependent upon a common peculiarity of form ? 



