and Sub-acid Salts. 
101 
portion selected from the after crystals (which differed very 
discernibly in their form ) was found to contain the quadruple 
proportion of acid. Hence it is to be presumed, that if these 
salts could have been perfectly separated, it would have been 
found, that the two quantities of potash were equally divided, 
and combined in one instance with two, and in the other with 
the remaining four out of the six equivalent quantities of acid 
taken. 
To account for this want of disposition to unite in the pro- 
portion of three to one by Mr. Dalton's theory, I apprehend 
he might consider the neutral salt as consisting of 
2 particles potash with 1 acid. 
The binoxalate as i and 1, or 2 with 2, 
The quadroxalate as 1 and 2, or 2 with 4, 
in which cases the ratios which I have observed of the acids 
to each other in these salts would respectively obtain. 
But an explanation, which admits the supposition of a double 
share of potash in the neutral salt, is not altogether satisfac- 
tory ; and I am further inclined to think, that when our views 
are sufficiently extended, to enable us to reason with precision 
concerning the proportions of elementary atoms, we shall 
find the arithmetical relation alone will not be sufficient to 
explain their mutual action, and that we shall be obliged to 
acquire a geometrical conception of their relative arrangement 
in all the three dimensions of solid extension. 
For instance, if we suppose the limit to the approach of 
particles to be the same in all directions, and hence their vir- 
tual extent to be spherical ( which is the most simple hypo- 
thesis) ; in this case, when different sorts combine singly there 
is but one mode of union. If they unite in the proportion of 
