Theory of Chemical Types: Electro* chemical Theory. 187 



sent time between the electro-chemical school and the school 

 of molecular types. 



If acetic acid is deprived of all its hydrogen, and chlorine 

 substituted for that hydrogen, we say that acetic acid and 

 chloracetic acid possess the same molecular arrangement, and 

 that they should possess the same general actions so long as 

 their molecule is not destroyed. Urged by the convenient 

 principles, the electro-chemical system, M. Berzelius, on the 

 contrary, makes of chloracetic acid a separate body, in which 

 he arranges the elements into two groups, which he supposes 

 to be combined with each other. In his opinion the chlora- 

 cetic acid becomes a compound of oxalic acid and chloride of 

 carbon, a formula which is in no way justified, for chloracetic 

 acid treated with potassa should give chloride of potassium and 

 oxalate of potassa, whilst, according to my experience,, it really 

 gives carbonic acid and chloroform. 



It is just the same thing as when it was said that the bin- 

 oxide of calcium and the chloride of lime belonged to the same 

 type, that which the interesting and decisive experiments of 

 M. Millon have so well proved ; whilst M. Berzelius, relying 

 on ingenious researches, was induced to assert that lime when 

 uniting with chlorine gave rise to a chlorite. 



If M. Malaguti takes two equivalents of chlorine from aether, 

 the theory of types foresees and explains that in their place 

 there must have entered into the new product two equivalents 

 of chlorine. It sees aether in the new product, as to the mo- 

 lecular constitution and the fundamental properties. 



But M. Berzelius, on the contrary, as might have been sup- 

 posed, disposes the elements of this new body, and^ those of the 

 products of which it makes a part, in such a way as to make 

 them constitute binary compounds, which according to these 

 formulae would possess actions quite opposed to those which 

 have been recognized by M. Malaguti. 



In all cases in which the theory of substitutions and the theory 

 of types see single molecules losing some of their elements and 

 substituting others for them, without the edifice being modi- 

 fied in its form or its exterior actions, the electro-chemical 

 theory reduces (dedouble) these same molecules, solely we must 

 say to find those two antagonist groups which it afterwards 

 supposes combined, in virtue of their reciprocal electrical ac- 

 tion. 



Thus in my opinion the electro-chemical theory has been 

 drawn out of the circle which experience traces for us, when 

 it would have explained the new facts of organic chemistry. 

 But is it to be asserted that the electrical properties of bodies are 



