270 On Chemical Nomenclature. 



% 



Compounds which consist of radicals only, are distinguished by the 

 term uret equivalent to the French ure. Hence carburet, phosphuret, 

 boruret, silicuret, <^c. 



Of any two binary compounds containing each the same basaci- 

 gen body and forming one compound, the more electro-negative is 

 an acid, the other a base. Hence all the electro-negative haloid 

 compounds in the Berzelian double salts, are acids, and the electro- 

 positive, bases. Where there are two such compounds one contain- 

 ing one basacigen atom, the other two atoms or one and half, the 

 former has a termination in ous, the latter in ic. As for instance the 

 chlorureplatinosopotassique of Berzelius, is a compound of chloro- 

 platinous acid, and the chlorobase of potassium, and is the chloro- 

 platinite of potassium. The chlorureplatinico-potassique of the 

 same author, is the chloroplatinate of potassium.* 



By analogy the intelligent reader may easily make these examples 

 " a clue to designate any other of the double salts of Berzelius so as to 

 accord with the plan in question. He may have a bromoplatinate, 

 or bromoplatinite, a iodoplatinate or iodoplatinite, a fluoplatinate, 

 fyc; or exchanging the radical a chloroaurate or chloroaurite, a bro- 

 moaurate or bromoaurite, Sfc. 



The terms amphigen and halogen being employed both from ex- 

 pediency, and in honor of their author, we may use his terms hal- 

 oid and amphide, to distinguish the acids or bases severally formed 

 by these classes, the abbreviations halo and amph, being employed 

 in composition. Thus I designate the acids formed by the halogen 

 bodies with hydrogen, as halohydric acids ; those formed with that 

 radical by the amphigen bodies, as amphydric acids. As the same 

 radical will in other cases be found to form acids with several of the 

 halogen bodies, platinum for instance, the acids thus produced, may 

 be called haloplaiinic aids ; or if gold were the radical, they would 

 be called haloauric acids. These examples will suggest to the chem- 



* In designating salts of the metals proper, as for instance, the nitrate of mercu- 

 ry ; the idea of the ox}alisenxent of the metal is always understood, although usu- 

 ally not expressed. In the instance above cited, we actually mean the nitrate of 

 the oxide or oxybase of mercury. By analogy, I here use the term chloroplatinate 

 of fotassium, for chloroplatinate of the chlorobase of potassiutn. It is in fact, well 

 known to chemists, that acids do not unite directly with metals. The only alleg- 

 ed exception to this rule, of which I have any knowledge, is that of tellurium and 

 sulphuric acid. It is inferred, therefore, that when an acid is combined with a 

 metal, the latter must exist in the state of a base formed with the basacigen body 

 which enters into the composition of the acid. 



