1876.] 



Analysis of Chemical Events. 



85 



Section lY. Elementary analysis of events. — If the equation to a che- 

 mical event be capable of expression as the continued product of rational 

 factors of the form previously given (x — a), x and a being prime factors 

 of the equation, the event is a simple event incapable of further resolu- 

 tion; but occasionally the equations to events may be expressed by 

 rational factors, although not of this form. In this case they admit of 

 an easy analysis into other events of which they are the aggregates. 

 Take, for example, the equation 



or 



a(x + (u~2)(x"C.) = 0, 

 which may be written thus, 



« (x-^) (x-<^)+« (^-1) (x-^)=o, 



whence 



«(x-i) (x-<^)=o, 



«(<.-!) (x-c.)=0, 



the constituents being 



«X' + "'^ — "X +«'^X' 

 awx + aw = aio^ + «X' 



Again, the foUovsdng event is the action of chlorosulphuric acid upon 

 water : — 



This equation is of the form 

 whence 



(x-5)+« (ef-i) ix-l), 



the constituents being 



a0^Y + aA = a0^'x + «X' 

 aei\ +a| = a0|-* + «x. 

 The analysis of these two phenomena here indicated has actually been 

 effected by experiment. 



Section Y. — In this section the doctrine of Chemical Congndty is dis- 

 cussed, two chemical functions being said to be congruous to one another 

 in reference to a special substitution if they assume the same value when 

 that substitution is respectively effected in them. 



Eurther, a method is given for the Bevelojjment of cliemical functions, 

 and for the complete theoretical analysis of any chemical event whatso- 

 ever — the theoretical analysis of a chemical event occurring by any 

 number of specified substitutions, namely, of a for x, h for y, c for z, . . ., 

 being here said to be effected when all the different chemical events 

 occurring in any way whatever by these substitutions are enumerated, 

 the aggregate of which constitutes the event in question. 



I shall not attempt any further abstract of this section, vrhich is given 

 in my memoir with as much brevity as is consistent with the comprehen- 

 sion of the subject. 



