54 Hvistence of Radicals in the Amphide Salts disproved. 
(j.) If one atom of oxygen confer upon the base into which it 
enters, the power to combine with one atom of acid, it is quite 
consistent that the affinity should be augmented, proportionably, 
by a further accession of oxygen. 
(k.) It were quite as anomalous, mysterious, and improbable, 
that there should be three oxyphosphions, severally requiring for 
saturation one, two, and three atoms of hydrogen, as that three 
isomeric states of phosphoric acid should exist, requiring as many 
different equivalents of basic water. 
(Z.) The attributes of acidity alleged to be due altogether to 
the presence of basic water, are not seen in hydrated acids, when 
holding water in that form only; nor in such as are, like the oily 
acids, incapable of uniting with water as a solvent. Further, 
these attributes are admitted to belong to salts which, not hold- 
ing water as a base, cannot be hydrurets or hydracids of any salt 
radical; and while such attributes are found in compounds which, 
like chromic, or carbonic acid, cannot be considered as hydrurets, 
they do not exist in all that merit this appellation, as is evident 
in the case of prussic acid, or oil of bitter almonds. 
(m.) It seems to have escaped attention, that if SO* be the 
oxysulphion of sulphates, SO*, anhydrous sulphuric acid, must 
be the oxysulphion of the sulphites; and that there must, in the 
hyposulphites and hyposulphates, be two other oxysulphions. 
(n.) The electrolytic experiments of Daniell have been erro- 
neously interpreted, since the electrolysis of the base of sulphate 
of soda would so cause the separation of sodium, and oxygen, that 
the oxygen would be attracted to the anode, the hydrogen and 
soda being indirectly evolved by the reaction of sodium with 
water; while the acid, deprived of its alkaline base, would be 
found at the anode in combination with basic water, without 
having been made to act in the capacity of an anion. 
(o.) The copper in the case of a solution of the sulphate of 
this metal and a solution of potash, separated by a membrane, 
would, by electrolyzation, be evolved by the same process as so- 
dium, so long as there should be copper to perform the office of a 
cathion; and when there should no longer be any copper to act 
in this capacity, the metal of the alkali, or hydrogen of water, on 
the other side of the membrane, would act as a cathion; the 
oxygen acting as an anion from one electrode to the other, first 
to the copper, and then to the potassium. 
