ON CHEMICAL NOMENCLATURE. 
13 
with any definition which can be devised, there is any class 
of bodies in nature which merit the appellation of salt-pro- 
ducers. Before enlarging the superstructure, let it be shown 
that the basement has been well grounded. 
Berzelius lays some stress on the community of effect, in 
the evolution of hydrogen, both by acids formed by hydrogen 
with halogen bodies, and by diluted hydrous sulphuric acid, as 
evincing a similitude of composition justifying the suggestion 
above quoted from him. But I conceive that this common 
result is better explained by ascribing it to the tendency of 
radicals to displace each other from combination, whether ex- 
isting in a simple or a complicated compound. If water ex- 
ists as a base in hydrous sulphuric acid ; as I have elsewhere 
suggested, we may consider this hydrous acid as a sulphate of 
the oxybase of hydrogen ; and that when it reacts with zinc 
or iron, the proneness of hydrogen to the aeriform state enables 
either metal to take its place, agreeably to the established laws 
of affinity. 
It may be proper, before concluding, to explain more par- 
ticularly the nomenclature which I have adopted. 
The amphigen, and halogen bodies of Berzelius, as they 
produce acids and bases according to my definition, are all 
classed as basacigen bodies. Of course oxygen, chlorine, bro- 
mine, iodine, fluorine, cyanogen, sulphur, selenium, and tel- 
lurium, are included in this class. 
The general designation of a binary compound of a bas- 
acigen body, is the termination in ide; the special, the termina- 
tion in acid, when the compound acts as an acid, in base, when 
it acts as a base. 
Hence an oxide, may be an oxacid, or an oxybase; 
a chloride, a chloracid, or a chloribase ; 
a bromide, a bromacid, or a bromibase; 
an iodide, an iodacid, or an iodobase ; 
a cyanide, a cyanacid, or a cyanobase ; 
a sulphide, a sulphacid, or a sulphobase; 
a selenide, a selenacid, or a selenibase ; 
a telluride, a telluracid, or a telluribase; 
