Heinrich Rose. 825 
an argument for altering the formula of the alkalies, Rose 
brought forward the fact that there is no known instance, a 
least in artificial products, of the isomorphous substitution of an 
alkali in place of a compound of equal atoms of metal and 
oxygen. An objection to the proposed change, however, is that 
the suboxyd of silver would then have the extraordinary com- 
position of four atoms of metal to one of oxygen. This objec- 
as weight, said Rose, so long as such a composition re- 
mains an isolated fact; but should other similarly constituted 
compounds be discovered, in the progress of science, it would 
necessarily lose its force. 
The subject occupied Rose’s thoughts, and led to many at- 
tempts to form compounds which would be admitted to contain 
‘our atoms of a metal combined with one of oxygen. In Octo- 
throughout his life, should be so strikingly confirmed at its close. 
ses reputation will, however, we think, rest mainly u 
to be weighed. “Klaproth’s Essays were unsurpassed in 
time, and meee their value as original works of experi- 
i 
