Existence of Radicals in the Amphide Salts disproved. 249 
53. Of course, in the case of presenting either a sesquioxide, 
or a trioxide, to the last mentioned sulphate, in other words, hy- 
drous sulphuric acid, the same rationale will be applicable. 
54, The next argument advanced by Dr. Kane, is, that some 
of the acids of which the existence is assumed upon the old doc- 
trine, are hypothetical, as they have never been isolated. This 
mode of reasoning may be made to react against the new doctrine 
with pre-eminent force, since all of the compound radicals ima- 
gined by it are hypothetical—none of them having been isolated. 
55. he third argument of the respectable author above named 
is, that acids display their acid character in a high degree only 
when in the combination with water. 
56. This argument should be considered in reference to two 
different cases, in one of which all the water held by the acid is 
_in the state of a base, while in the other an additional quantity is 
present acting asa solvent. So far as water, acting as a solvent, 
facilitates the reaction between acids and bases, it performs a part 
in common with alcohol, ether, volatile oils, resins, vitrifiable 
fluxes, and caloric. Its efficacy must be referred to the general 
law, that fluidity is necessary to chemical reaction. ‘Corpora 
non agunt nisi soluta.” 
57. Ina majority of cases, basic water, unaided by an addition- 
al portion acting as a solvent, is quite incompetent to produce re- 
action between acids and other bodies. Neither between sul- 
phuric acid and zinc, between nitric acid and silver, nor between 
glacial or crystallized acids and metallic oxides, does any reaction 
take place without the aid of water acting as a solvent, and per- 
forming a part analogous to that which heat performs in promo- 
ting the union of those oxybases with boric, or silicic acid. 
58. It is only with soluble acids that water has any eflicacy. 
The difference between the energy of sulphuric and silicic acid, 
under the different circumstances in which they can reciprocally 
displace each other, is founded on the nature of the solvents which 
they require, the one being only capable of liquefaction by water, 
the other by caloric. 
59. In support of his opinions the author adverts to the fact, 
that with hydrated sulphuric acid, baryta will combine energet- 
ically in the cold, while a similar union between the anhydrous 
vapor and the same base cannot be accomplished without heat. 
But it ought to be recollected, that to make this argument good, 
Vol. xiv, No. 2.—July-Sept. 1843. 32 
