W. Gibbs on the Atomic Weights of Elements. 251. 
Hydrogen 1 Oxygen, 8 16 
Phioeak : 4 ee 35°5 Carbon, 6 12 
Bromine, 40 80 Zine, 32°5 65 
Potassium, 19°5 39 Iron, 28 56 
Nitrogen, 7 14 &e. &e. 
in which table the first column gives the atomic and the second 
the molecular wei 4 ‘ : 
The formula of water thus becomes H,O and its atomic 
weight 9; caustic potash is rt O and its atomic weight 28; 
oxyd of zine will be ZnO and its atomic weight 405; chlorhy- 
dric acid will be HCl and its atomic weight 18°25. The dashed 
symbols H, G1, K, &c., may also be employed, as in the Berze- 
han notation and would in many cases be extremely convenient. 
All the typical formulas now so generally employed will be 
written as at present, the actual weights only being changed. 
The general acceptance of the views of the new school would be 
greatly facilitated by the adoption of the system of atomic 
Weights here proposed. : 
Th another paper I propose to discuss the question of the 
bs city of the elements with other points of special theoretical 
Interest. 
New York, Jan, 12th, 1861. 
