ANALYSTS 9F NEUTRAL SALTS. g^I 



while the portion of oxi2;en, that enters into the metaUic 

 oxide, and the acid, with which it is saturated, continue 

 the same: and that the different metaUic oxides, which 

 saturate a given portion of any acid, all contain the same 

 quantity of oxigen. 



The first of these propositions appeared to me the most The first ap- 

 im'portant. The experiments of Mr. Richter beiii^ for the [f^^^ ^tult'',Qt 

 most part defective, I began by applying this principle to 

 •a great number of other analyses made by different che- 

 mists ; but among these I found only six, that answered 

 to the rule with any degree of accuracy. These were the 

 analyses of the sulphates and muriates of barytes, potash, 

 and soda, made by Messrs. Bucholz and Rose. The 

 analyses of Mr. Kirwan corresponded very well with 

 each other, but not with other analyses. The experiments 

 I have mentioned of Messrs. Bucholz and Rose, having 

 afforded results differing only in the thousandth parts, ap- 

 peared to be the most accurate ; and almost the only ones, 

 that were sufficiently precise for inquiries of this kind. To 

 determine this point, and in order to verify the opinion of 

 Mr. Richter in a more decisive manner, 1 proposed to my- Two sets of 

 self to execute a series of analyses with the most scrupulous jertaken to* 

 exactitude; and for this purpose to analyse all the sulphates, verify the prin- 

 and all the salts with base oi barytes. From these two ^'^' ^' 

 sets of analyses I could calculate the eomposition of all 

 the other salts, and the result of this calculation remained 

 to be confirmed by experiment. I had engaged in this 

 pursuit in 1807, '"-^^^ given an account of some of the ana- 

 lyses in my " Elementary Treatise on Chemistry", which 

 was published in the beginning of 1808. The truth of 

 the principle being fully confirmed by these analyses, no- 

 thing remained, but to complete the two sets of analyses 

 I had pi*oposed to myself. 



At this juncture the discoveries of Mr. Davy on the de- Dr. Davy's 

 composition of the fixed alkalis were published. The idea, ^'[[^gau7ab!e 

 that all salifiable bases were metallic oxides, at once struck bases supposed 

 me ; and I had no doubt, that I should soon hear of Mr. J^^j^j'desT"'''^'*' 

 Pavy's having metallized also the earths and ammonia. 1 

 repeated, however, with Dr. Pontin, physician to the king, 

 t experiments of Mr. Davy; but, as we had only a very 



feeble 



