s&4- C II E M 
ed, have beer, called neutral, middle, compound, or fe- 
condary, falts. To the firft two of thefe names they have 
no claim, unlefs when they are neither acid nor alka¬ 
line : the other two are more accurate, and of greater 
utility. All thefe frits are readily made by art; and na¬ 
ture exhibits a conliderable number of them, particu¬ 
larly of thole the radicals of which are limple. Minera¬ 
logy is continually making new acquifitions in this branch 
of knowledge, by the analylis of minerals, which alone 
is capable of unfolding to us their intimate nature. 
Every compound fait ought to have a double name, one 
branch of which (hould indicate its acid, the other its 
earthy or alkaline bafe. The f miner has two different 
terminations announcing the date of the acid. Words 
ending in at are employed when the fait contains an 
acid iaturated with oxygen, which is denoted by the 
termination ic: thus nitrats are formed by the nitric 
acid: and words ending in it, imply feeble acids, not 
fit a rated with oxygen; for which, as has been already 
obferved, we ufe the termination ous; thus the com¬ 
pound of the nitrous acid are nitrits. 
As there are thirty-four kinds of acids known, and 
feven earthy or alkaline bales, which may be united to 
form compound falts, the number of thele falts might be 
eftimated at two hundred and thirty-eight; but fuch a 
calculation would be far from exaCt ; for, :ft, There are 
only few acids capable of combining with filex; zdly, 
There are others which cannot unite with certain earthy 
bafes, on account,of their weaknefs, or with ammoniac 
without decompoiing it; 3dly. There are feveral acids 
which may be united to the fame bafes in three ways, or 
remain at three different points of faturation with thele 
bales ; namely, with excels of acid, with excels of bafe, 
and exactly neutralized. Thus we are far from being 
able to determine with accuracy the number of earthy 
and alkaline compound falts; becatife we are far from 
having fufiiciently examined all thele combinations, to 
attain a.perfeft knowledge of them, and allure ourfelves 
whether they be not fuiceptible of feveral degrees of fa¬ 
turation, &c. All the acids polfelfmg different eleCfive 
attractions or affinities for each alkaline or earthy bafe, 
it is necelfary to be fully acquainted with the whole of 
thele refpe&ive affinities, before we can have a complete 
knowledge of compound falts ; and, as a very few only 
of thefe affinities have yet been determined with accu¬ 
racy, we are far from polfeffing the general mafs of 
faCls that relate to this order of bodies. Indeed, one- 
tenth of thele combinations has not yet been duly in- 
veftigated. 
To begin the hiftory of compound falts methodically, 
we ffiould divide them into genera and fpecies, and fix 
their generic and fpecific characters. As this branch of 
the fubjeCt has not yet much occupied the attention of 
chemilts, a (light (ketch of it is all that can be given; 
though, in the prefent (late of fcience, it may be elfen- 
tial to the enunciation of chemical properties. There 
are two methods of dividing compound falts, to which 
recourfe might be had ; the one founded on their acids, 
the other on their bafes : at prefent, however, it is from 
the acids only we can eftablilh genera comprehending 
the whole of the falts, for they alone are capable of fur- 
nifning generic characters ; the influence of the bafes on 
the properties of thefe compounds, not being fufficienfly 
known, to enable us to confider thefe earthy and alka¬ 
line fubltances, as the heads of the generical divilions. 
Thus we may reckon thirty-live genera of compound 
falts, according to the number and name of the acids. 
But each of thefe genera (hould be confidered with re- 
fpeCt to its difcriminative characters, or thofe qualities 
which are fufticient to diitinguilh it, and give an accu¬ 
rate idea of its difference from all others. For this pur- 
pofe, out of the properties difplayed by it, one, if pof- 
fible, or at molt two or three, (hould be feleCted, of pro¬ 
minent features, to conftitute an ellential character of 
z 
: S T R Y. 
each genus. Fourcroy has affumed the following 'clafii- 
fication of thefe thirty-five genera : 
Genus I. Sulphats : Decompofable by charcoal, &c. 
into fulphures. 
Genus II. Sulphits: Yielding the fineil of burning 
fulphur on the contaCt of almoft all acids, with effervef- 
cence. 
Genus III. Nitrats : Afcending combultible bodies 
at different temperatures, and almoft ail of them reduci¬ 
ble to their bafes by .the aClion of lire. 
Genus IV. Nitrits-. Decompofable by weak acids, 
which feparate from it red nitrous vapour. 
Genus V. Carbonats: Leaving the characters of 
their bales more or lei’s prominent; and producing with 
all acids a brifk and fenfibie effervefcence, till their car¬ 
bonic acid is completely evolved. 
Genus VI. Phosphats: Decompofable mediately, of 
immediately, by charcoal, which feparates from them the 
phofporus. 
Genus VII, Phosphits : All decompofable immedi¬ 
ately by charcoal, which feparates from them the phof- 
phorus ; and emitting vapours on the contaCt of fulphu- 
ric acid, &c. 
Genus VIII. Arseniats : Affording, on the contaCt 
of red hot charcoal, the linell and white vapour of arfe-» 
nic ; and not decompofable by acids alone, unaffilted by 
a double affinity. 
Genus IX. Arsenits : The arfenious acid is fepa- 
rated and precipitated from their folutions by the con¬ 
taCt ot all the acids, even of the arfenic acid. 
Genus X. Tung stats : Turning yellow on the ad¬ 
dition of nitric or muriatic acid. 
Genus XI. Molybdats : Not yet diftinguilhable till 
the molybdenic acid is feparated from them by other acids, 
and in confequence of the characters exhibited by the 
molybdenic acid. 
Genus XII. Muriats : Affording muriatic acid by 
means of concentrated fulphuric acid, and oxygenated 
muriatic acid when aCted upon by the qitric. 
Genus XIII. Oxygenated Muriats: Accending 
all combultible bodies at a lower temperature than they 
are kindled by nitrats, with a more vivid flame, and re¬ 
maining in the ftate of muriats after the combuftion is 
ended. 
Genus XIV. Fluats : Yielding a vapour that cor¬ 
rodes glafs, on the contaCt of concentrated fulphuric acid; 
Genus XV. Borats: Fufi’ole, with or without repa¬ 
ration of their bafes; and affording, when another acid 
is united with their folution, boracic acid in foliated 
cryftals. 
Genus XVI. Succinats : Thefe are not to be known 
or characterized but by decompoiing them, and obferv- 
ing their acid : molt of them retain the fmell of burnt 
amber. 
Genus XVII. Citrats: Not fufiiciently known for us 
to find in them generic characters : to diitinguilh them, 
the citric acid muff be l’eparated by the molt powerful 
mineral acids. 
Genus XVIII. Gallats : All ftrongly characterized 
by their property of precipitating iron black from its lo- 
lutions, and partly reducing the oxyds of filver, gold, 
and mercury, in feparating them from tire nrenftrua in 
which they are diffolved. 
Genus XIX. Malats : Almoft all deliquefeent: not 
to be known but by obtaining their acid feparately by 
the aid of mineral acids. 
Genus XX. Benzoats: Afcertainable on difeerning 
the fmell of the benzoic acid, feparated by acids of greater 
power. 
Genus XXI. Tartrits : Sufficiently ftriking charac- 
teriftics for diltinguilhing thefe, are to be found in their 
tendency to compofe triple falts, and acidules lei's foluble 
than either the pure acid, or the neutral falts which the 
tartarous acid forms with the fame bafes. 
Genus 
