G. F. Barker on Formic versus Carbonous Acid. 263° 
Fluorine is placed among the Artiads, because of its frequent 
replacement of oxygen, the analogies of its ternaries with those 
of oxygen, and the nature of some other of its compounds, 
although it acts in many cases asa Perissad. But with regard 
to it no special relation in a horizontal view of the classification 
ls intended to be indicated.* ; 
Art. XXX.—Formic versus Carbonous acid; by GrorGE F. 
BARKER. 
In studying the primary oxyds of the negative simple radicals, 
(the acids) for Be’ arpobs oF classification, it is evident that 
the equivalence of th ; 
it forms. In sulphuric acid, sulphur is a hexad, while in sul- 
phurous acid it is a tetrad and in hyposulphurous acid a dyad. 
Conversely we may expect to find as many acids as the radical 
Case of the tetrad carbon we have carbonic acid; but since car- 
u may act as a dyad, carbonous acid is also possible. I pro- 
Pose to give here some of the arguments which may be adduced 
to show that formic acid is the acid in question. (en9) 
1. The formula of formic acid, usually written H t 8, 
may equally well be written yy. t @,, both being equal to 
2 . 
B60, corresponding to carbonic acid H,€6,. igen formate 
€H 
oo) 1 © equals we t @., and the ethers a @ may 
be € 
H(€,H, nt1) 2: (CHO) 
2. Hofmann’s formamid H ‘+N may be viewed as 
(6) at © carbimie acid, corresponding to carbamic acid 
€¢6 : (€H®@) 
eS Especially since ethyl-formamid CoH, N may 
be ethylic carbimate Ook t @. 
G. Hinrichs, of Iowa University, publehee = 
ich, while the views are w: different, 
imei the iy siataire? this Journal. 
