05r OXALIC AC'IB, g'T" 



From the tnowledfye of this curious law, it is difficult foTb^^J^ura- 

 avoid concluding, that each of these elements consists of lepresent^he 

 atoms of determinate weight, which combine according to weight of thek 

 certain fixed proportions, and that the numbers above given atpms^* 

 represent the relative weights of these atoms respectively. 

 Thus, an atom of oxigen weighs six, an atom of hidrogen 

 one, &c. Water is composed of one atom of oxigen, snd 

 one atom of hidrogen; carbonic acid of two atoms of oxi- 

 gen, and one of carbon, &c. This curious theory, which 

 promises to throw an unexpected light on the obscurest 

 parts of chemistry, belongs to Mr. Dalton. I have else- 

 where illustrated it at considerable length*. 



The same law holds with respect to the salts. The acids The same law 

 and bases always combine in determinate proportions. We ° ^ ^" * ' 

 may affix numbers to all the acids and bases, which num- 

 bers, or their multiples, will represent all the combinations 

 into which these bodies enter. Some of these numbers are 

 given in the following table : 



Sulphuric acid* • 33 Barytes* • » 67 



Muriatic acid • • 18 Soda 24 



Carbonic acid • • l6-5 Lime ........ 23 



Nitric acid .... 17 Ammonia- •••• • 6 



These numbers may be conceived to represent the relative 

 weights of an integrant particle of eacli of these substances ; 

 formed on the supposition, tnat an atom of hidrogen weighs 

 1, It follows equally from this law, that the acids and Corollaiy. 

 bases combine particle with particle, or a certain determi- 

 nate number of particles of the one with a particle of the 

 tother. 



One of the mostimportant points in the investigation of Weight of in- 

 compound bodies is, to ascertain the number, which d«n!Otes ^.j^J'^' obiect 

 the weight of an integrant particle of each of them, that of of imporuuce. 

 an atom of hidrogen being one; because this number, or a 

 multiple of it, represents the weight of each, which enters 

 into all combinations; and because it enables us to estiuiate 

 the number of elementary atoms, of which each is composed. 

 From a careful comparison of the table of oxalates, jJivtruin 

 U preceding part of this paper, with the weight of the dif- 



♦ Sge Sj^tem of Chemistrj-, lil, 424, &c. 3d Edition, 



f^rent 



