278 CHEMICAL THEORY ILLUSTRATED BY NEW FACTS. 



The whole tenour of the antiphlogistic doctrines necessa- 

 rily points to such an order ; but in considering the facts 

 ■under other points of view, solutions may be found, which, 

 if not so simple, account for the phenomena with at least 

 equal facility. 

 ffcr«gi''tlc hy- Ifhidrogen, according to an hypothesis to which I have 

 fothesis. often referred, be considered as the princ'ple which gives 



inflammability, and as the cause of metallization, then our 

 list of simple substances will include oxigen, hidrogen, and 

 unknown bases only; metals and inflammable solids will be- 

 compounds of these bases with hidrogen ; the earths, the 

 fixed alkalis, metallic oxides, and the common acids, will 

 be compounds of the same bases, with water. 

 Argtrments ia The strongest arguments in favour of this notion, in addi- 

 favour of this, ^-^j^ ^^ those I have before stated, which at present occur 

 to me, are. First, The properties which seem to be inherent 

 in certain bodies, and which are either developed or con- 

 cealed, according to the nature of their combinations. Thus 

 sulphur, when it is dissolved in water either in combination 

 with hidrogen or oxigen, unifoiraly manifests acid proper- 

 ties; and the same quantity of sulphur, whether in com- 

 bination with hidrogen,. whether in its simple form, or 5n 

 combination with one proportion of oxigen, or a dou-ble 

 proportion, frona my experiments, seems to combine witK^ 

 the same quantity of alkali. Tellurium, whether in the 

 state of oxide, or of hidruret, seems to have the sarae 

 tendency of combination with alkali ; and the alkaline 

 metals, and the acidifiable bases, act with the greatest 

 energy on each other. 

 ^•i. Second. The facility with which metallic substances are 



revived, in cases in which hidrogen is present. I placed 

 two platina wires, positively and negatively electrified from 

 500 double plates of 6 inches, in fused litharge ; there wa* 

 fin effervescence at the positive side, and a black matter 

 •separated at the negative side, but no lead was produced; 

 though when litharge moistened with water was employed, 

 ^ or a solution of lead, the metal rapidly formed. The dif- 



ference of conducting power may be supposed to prodtice 

 fcome diflerence of effect, yet the expeiiment is favourable 



to 



