and Chemical Functions. 263 



rally which are susceptible of easy oxidation in two or more de- 

 finite stages, with the successive production of derivatives resem- 

 bling acetylic hydride and hydrate ; and with these prominent 

 attributes a number of others of minor importance are usually 

 associated. Such are, for instance, the power of yielding pecu- 

 liar classes of oxides (ethers, mixed ethers, compound ethers, 

 &c.) . In order to render the name specific, a specific designation, 

 as methylic or amylic, is prefixed to it. But what is the logical 

 result when we examine this operation ? The word " alcohol " 

 proves to be not the name of a thing, but the name of what a 

 thing will do — to wit, yield a peculiar kind of derivatives. 

 Hence it is the name of a function. In like manner, aldehyde, 

 ketone, glycol, amine, amide, acid, base, salt, and similar designa- 

 tions may be shown to be pure designations of chemical functions. 

 It must be borne in mind that I am here making an analysis of 

 a practical use of part of chemical nomenclature as actually re- 

 ceived by every one, just as in 1. the current ideas on chemical 

 substances were accepted as a groundwork ; and the result is 

 exclusively dynamical in both cases. There are no parts in sub- 

 stance. The material image of an alcohol becomes more than 

 ever an illusion. 



There is another class of names* whose use is rapidly extend- 

 ing, and whose character is especially dualistic. Such are hydric 

 sulphate, sodic chloride, &c. They fulfil the double duty of 

 giving a specific and generic designation, .and of indicating a 

 certain mode of chemical decomposition. Their chemical mean- 

 ing, therefore, is as assuredly dynamical as that of the names 

 whose signification has been above investigated. 



[Although not writing on the subject of nomenclature, I wish 

 to express my decided opinion in favour of the Berzelian method. 

 In the first place, it follows the immemorial usage of the Greek, 

 Latin, and English languages to make it a rule to qualify by means 

 of an adjective ; secondly, it proceeds upon the plan universally 

 adopted in botany ; thirdly, it is available throughout descriptive 

 chemistry, and is sufficiently supple for any legitimate inflexion. 

 These are great advantages. On the other hand, such names as 

 "potassiwm nitrate," " disodiwm tartrate," " hydrogen and so- 

 dium tartrate" (a rather ambiguous expression), &c. offend 

 against systematic grammatical usage, have no counterpart in 

 any other science, are excessively awkward to compound, and 

 often are very inharmonious. Chemistry might profitably lose 

 many of her oldest acquirements, but she ought not to give up 

 her adjectives without a struggle.] 



* Berzelius, Journ. de Phys. vol. lxxiii. p. 263. 



