Chemical Nomenclature of Berzelius. 251 
stantive, as oxide, sulphuret, and to the other component the termina- 
tion ous, or ic, forming the adjective, as for example, sulphurous, 
sulphuric. The substantive is formed from the electro-negative 
component, the adjective from the electro-positive. This rule should 
be strictly observed, that there may be nothing arbitrary in the no- 
menclature. When the more electro-positive element in a binary 
combination, belongs to the class of metalloids, or to that of the 
electro-negative metals, the termination ide is generally given to the 
name derived from the more electro-negative component;(3) but 
when the more electro-positive element is an electro-positive metal, 
the termination uret is applied to the electro-negative component. 
Thus, for example, we say, arsenious sulphide, sodic sulphuret. 
The termination ous given to the more electro-positive element, de- 
notes a combination in a lower proportion than that expressed by 1c, 
and qualifies the proportion of the electro-negative element. Pro- 
portions lower than either one of these are expressed by prefixing 
hypo to the name of the compound with which the proportions of 
the element are compared, and higher proportions by prefixing hyper. 
Thus we have sulphuric acid, hyposulphuric acid, sulphurous acid, 
hyposulphurous acid, hypermolybdic sulphide. Sometimes the par- 
(3) In the application of this rule to the case of the combination of two electro- 
negative bodies, we must depend, toa certain extent, upon the author of the sys- 
tem: since it is only generally that the termination ide is to be given to the more 
electro-negative body. Examples of deviation from a rigid adherence to this rule 
are quite frequent. 
The substances, in each of the classes which compose the table of simple bodies, 
being arranged nearly in the order in which the author considers it most convenient 
to treat them, and not with reference to their electrical relations, a table in which 
the substances are arranged according to the electro-negative order is subjoined. 
(See Berzelius, Vol. 1V, p. 570.) 
Oxygen. Carbon. Mercury. Thorium. 
Sulphur. Antimony. Silver. Zirconium. 
Nitrogen. Tellurium. Copper. Aluminium. 
Fluorine. Tantalum. Uranium. Vitti 
_ Chlorine. Titanium. Bismuth. Glucinium. 
Bromine. Silicium. Tin. Magnesium. 
Todine. Hydrogen. Lead. Calcium. 
Selenium. Caimium. Strontium. 
Phosphorus. Gold. Cobalt. Barium. 
Arsenic. Osmium. Nickel. Lithium. 
Chromium. Tridium. Iron. Sodium. 
Molybdenum. Platinum. Zine. Potassium. 
Tungsten. Rhodium. Manganese. Trans. 
Boron. Palladium. Cerium. 
