138 On ilie Calculus of Chemical Operations ^ S^c. [May 3, 



This assertion is the expression of a hypothesis which may be proved or 

 disproved by facts, and the consequences of which are here traced. 



The symbols of the elements are considered in three groups. 1. The 

 symbols of the elements of which the density in the gaseous condition can 

 be experimentally determined, and which form with one another gaseous 

 combinations. 2. The symbols of carbon, boron, and silicon. 3. The 

 symbols of other elements, which are determined with a certain probability 

 by the aid of the law of Dulong. 



For the method of constructing these symbols, which depends upon the 

 solution in whole numbers of certain simple indeterminate equations, we 

 must refer to the memoir itself. 



The following symbols may serve as an illustration of the general 

 results : — 



Name of substance. 



Prime factor. 



Absolute 

 weight in 

 grammes. 



Eelative 

 weight. 





a 



089 



1 





? 



0-715 



8 





X 



1-542 



17-25 





V 



0-581 



6-5 







1-305 



15 





K 



0-536 



6 





Symbol. 







Hydrogen 







a 



0-089 



1 



Oxygen 



V- 



1-430 



16 



Water 



al 



0-804 



9 



Clilorine 





3-173 



35-5 



Hydrochloric acid ... 





1-631 



18-25 



Oxide of chlorine 





3-888 



43-5 



Hypochlorous acid 





2-346 



26-25 



Teroxide of chlorine 





5-319 



59-5 



Chlorous acid 



«X^' 



3-062 



34-25 



Chloric acid 



«xf 



3-777 



42-25 



Nitrogen 





1-251 



14 



Ammonia 



a-v 



0-760 



8-5 



Protoxide of nitrogen 



avH 



1966 



22 



Nitrite of ammonium 





2-860 



32 



Cliloride of ammonium 



a^vx 



2-391 



26-75 



Phosphorus 



a-0^ 



5-541 



62 



Phosphide of hydrogen 



a-(p 



1-519 



17 



Pentachloride of plao&pliorus 





9-319 



104-25 



Terchloride of phosphorus 



«"9X^ 



6-145 



68-75 



Oxychloride of phosphorus 





6-869 



76-75 



Carbon 





0-536+y 





Acetylene 





1-161 



13 



Marsh-gas 



9 



a K 



0-704 



8 



Alcohol 





2-056 



23 



Ether 





3-308 



37 



Acetic anhydride 





4-559 



51 



Acetic acid 





2-682 



SO 



Trichloracetic acid 





6-146 



68-75 



Hydrocyanic acid 



avK 



1-207 



13-5 



Cyanogen 





2-324 



26 



