i 9 6 
Mr. Chenevix’s Analysis of 
and, in order that every particle of water might be finally ex- 
pelled, to prolong it. When the diminution of weight was ascer- 
tained, the residuum was dissolved in acetous, or, still better, 
in dilute nitric acid, and nitrate of lead was poured in. Arseniate 
of lead and nitrate of copper were thus formed, by double decom- 
position ; but, when more nitric acid had been used than was 
strictly necessary to dissolve the arseniate of copper, no precipi- 
tate appeared, till the liquor had been evaporated. When 
the evaporation was pushed too far, part of the nitric acid, 
contained in the soluble nitrate of copper, flew off ; and that 
nearly insoluble cupreous nitrate, first mentioned by Mr. 
Proust,* was produced. To obviate both inconveniences, 
alcohol was added, immediately before the liquor was quite eva- 
porated, and long after the precipitate had begun to appear; 
in a few minutes, all the arseniate of lead fell to the bottom, 
while the nitrate of copper was held in solution. These new 
products being separated by filtration, the spirituous liquor 
was distilled ; and, from the nitrate of copper, the quantity of 
the substantive, and in ique, for the adjective, obviates all confusion. One remark I 
shall beg leave to offer to the consideration of those chymists, who have laboured to 
adapt to the English language, a literal translation of the French nomenclature. It 
is the genius of the former language, to throw the accent as far back as possible; so 
that, in trisyllabical nouns, the first or second syllable is usually accented ; while, in 
the French language, the accent is generally thrown upon the last: thus, we say 
sulphuric acid, but they say, acide sulphurique. It was very natural therefore, as in 
the latter case, to make the accented syllable be that, which should denote the par- 
ticular state of the substance of which they speak. Thus sulphurique, sulphureux ; 
nitrique, nitreux ; sulphate, sulphite ; nitrate, nitrite. But, without offending the 
radical orthoepy of our language, we cannot make the same method t subservient 
to that purpose ; for, when we wish to mark the distinction in that manner, we 
are obliged to wrest the word from its proper pronunciation, and to say, nitric, nitrous, 
sulphureous, See. 
• Annales de Chimie, Vol. XXXII. p. 26. 
