Existence of Radicals in the Amphide Salts disproved. 57 
body. Cyanogen being analogous, is by him placed in the halo- 
gen class. I shall, therefore, in speaking of “salt radicals,” im- 
properly so called, employ the appellation contrived by the great 
Swedish chemist. 
4, Nevertheless it seems to be conceded, that however plausi- 
ble may be the reasons for inferring the existence of halogen 
bodies in the amphide salts, it would be inexpedient to make a 
corresponding change in nomenclature, on account of the great 
inconvenience which must arise from the consequent change of 
names. 
5. Under these circumstances, it may be well to consider how 
far there is any necessity for adopting hypothetical views, to 
which it would be so disadvantageous to accommodate the re- 
ceived language of chemists. In the strictures on the Berzelian 
nomenclature, which drew from Berzelius the suggestions con- 
tained in the quotation at the foot of the preceding page, I stated 
it to be my impression that water should be considered as acting 
in some cases as an oxybase, in others as an oxacid ; and, in my 
examination of his reply,* I observed that hydrous sulphuric acid 
might be considered as a sulphate of hydrogen, and that when 
this acid reacts with zinc or iron, the proneness of hydrogen to 
the aériform state enables either metal to take tts place, agreeably 
to the established laws of affinity. 
6. There appears to have been a coincidence of opinion be- 
tween Kane, Graham, Gregory, and myself, as respects the elec- 
tro-positive relation of hydrogen to the amphigen and halogen 
elements, which I have designated collectively as the basacigen 
class; also in the impression that hydrogen acts like a metallic 
radical, its oxide, water, performing the part of a base. I agree 
perfectly with Gregory in considering that hydrated acids may be 
considered as “hydrogen salts.” But when the learned editor 
proceeds to allege that “acids and salts, as respects their consti- 
tution, will form one class,” I consider him, and those who. sanc- 
tion this allegation, as founding an error upon an oversight. Be- 
cause the salts of hydrogen, or such as have water for their base, 
have heretofore been erroneously called acids, we are henceforth 
to confound salts with acids, and, instead of correcting one wrong 
name, cause all others to conform thereto ! 
*Silliman’s Journal, for 1835, Vol. xxvu, page 61. 
Vol. xtv, No. 1.—April-June, 2843. 8 
