Prof. W. A. Miller on Chemical Nomenclature. 13 



modification quite in harmony with the principles recognized in 

 the present mode of constructing names for chemical compounds, 

 the requisite precision may readily be given. For instance, the 

 oxides of the four metals above mentioned represent four differ- 

 ent types of atomic composition, which it is desirable to indicate 

 in the name, and which may be done by giving to them the fol- 

 lowing designations : — 



Ag 4 . Tetrargentous oxide. 

 Ag 2 . Diargentic oxide. 

 Cu 2 . Dicupreous oxide. 

 CuO . Cupric oxide. 



Au 2 . Diaurous oxide. 



Au 2 3 . Auric sesquioxide. 



SnO . Stannous oxide. 



SnO 2 . Stannic dioxide. 



No doubt some of these names are longer and more clumsy 

 than those for which it is proposed to substitute them ; but the 

 ear soon becomes reconciled to words which are found to be 

 useful. 



The Greek numerals are those which in most cases make the 

 best words, and for some time past the tendency has been 

 towards a systematic and exclusive use of these numerals as 

 prefixes, which are thus gradually displacing their Latin equiva- 

 lents. It is true that the use of Greek prefixes to Latin deriva- 

 tives is in itself objectionable; but unfortunately the nomencla- 

 ture of science so abounds already in barbarisms of this nature, 

 that it would be mere affectation in framing our names to dis- 

 card an old, convenient, and recognized term such as stannic or 

 auric, because it is of Latin origin, whilst the characteristic 

 numeral prefix with which it is to be associated is of Greek 

 derivation. 



In order to enable the reader to judge fairly of the general 

 effect of the modifications proposed by Professor Williamson 

 with the extensions now suggested by myself, it will be useful 

 to enumerate the more important oxides and chlorides, giving 

 the names at present current, together with those which it is 

 proposed to substitute for them. The application of a few of 

 these altered terms to some of the salts of the common acids, 

 such as the sulphates and nitrates, will then sufficiently illus- 

 trate the class of names which would be thus introduced, and 

 in this way it will be seen with how much precision compounds 

 of this kind may be indicated. 



Let it not be for a moment imagined that any abolition of 

 trivial names in common use is contemplated in the changes 

 suggested. Names such as calomel, corrosive sublimate, caustic 

 potash, baryta, and the like, have become an integral part of the 

 language of common life ; they are recognized by the mass of 

 educated men, and are, moreover, in a scientific sense, valuable, 

 as giving precision in many cases to the shifting names which, 

 from the rapidly- varying views of chemical constitution, have 



