On Chemical Nomenclature. 269 



thus form a salt by union with an atom of any radical. He conceives 

 that the apparent want of analogy, which induced him to separate 

 into two classes, the araphigen and halogen bodies, disappears under 

 this view of the phenomena ; and that his amphide sahs might be con- 

 sidered as constituted of a compound halogen body and an elemen- 

 tary radical. But however we may admire the ingenuity of these 

 suggestions, ere, in obedience to them, we extend the limits of the 

 halogen class, I would request that the word salt should be defined, 

 and that it be shown that consistently with any definition which can 

 be devised, there is any class of bodies in nature which merit the ap- 

 pellation of salt producers. Before enlarging the superstructure, let 

 it be shown that the basement has been well grounded. 



Berzelius lays some stress on the community of effect, in the evo- 

 lution of hydrogen, both by acids formed by hydrogen with halogen 

 bodies, and by diluted hydrous sulphuric acid, as evincing a simili- 

 tude of composition justifying the suggestion above quoted from him. 

 But I conceive that this common result is better explained by ascri- 

 bing it to the tendency of radicals to displace each other from com- 

 bination, whether existing in a simple or a complicated compound. 

 If water exists as a base in hydrous sulphuric acid ; as I have else- 

 where suggested, we may consider this hydrous acid as a sulphate of 

 the oxybase of hydrogen ; and that when it reacts with zinc or iron, 

 the proneness of hydrogen to the aeriform state enables either metal 

 to take its place, agreeably to the established laws of affinity. 



It may be proper, before concluding, to explain more particularly 

 the nomenclature which I have adopted. 



The amphigen, and halogen bodies of Berzelius as they produce 

 acids and bases according to my definition, are all classed as basaci- 

 gen bodies. Of course oxygen, chlorine, bromine, iodine, fluorine, 

 cyanogen, sulphur, selenium and tellurium, are included in this class. 

 The general designation of a binary compound of a basacigen 

 body, is the termination in ide ; the special, the termination in acid, 

 when the compound acts as an acid, in hase, when it acts as a base. 

 Hence an oxide, may he an oxacid, or an oxybase ; 



a chloride, a chloracid, or a chloribase ; 



a bromide, a bromacid, or a bromibase ; 



an iodide, an iodacid, or an iodobase ; 



a cyanide, a cyanacid, or a cyanobase j 



a sulphide, a sulphacid, or a sulphobase ', 



a selenide, a selenacid, or a selenibase ; 



a telluride, a telluracid, . or a telluribase ; 



