ON AQUA REGIA. 
267 
considered as something analogous to the sulphate of oxide 
of nitrogen ; but since I have shown that the sulphuric acid 
does not enter into a combination with the oxide of nitro- 
gen, and that the sulphurous acid, with regard to sulphur, 
acts the part of a radical, it became necessary to consider 
these combinations as well as oxynitro-sulphuric acid as 
being constituted in a manner analogous to that of the oxy- 
sulphuric acid. 
35. Like the combinations of this kind, the benzamid 
also, and the oxamid, salicylamid, phtalamid, and other 
analogous oxidated combinations are composed of two radi- 
cals. Oxygen, therefore, may contribute to the production 
of compound radicals, and these, by combining with oxy- 
gen, chlorine, and sulphur, &c, may form oxy-acids, oxy- 
chloro-acids, oxy-sulpho-acids, oxy-bases, oxy-chloro-bases, 
oxy-sulpho-bases, and, finally, combinations also, in which 
either the oxygen, the chlorine, or the sulphur are no less 
acidifying agents than as means of reproducing bases. 
The chlorine or the sulphur, however, being able to 
behave as the electro-negative element with reference to 
the oxygenous radical, and the oxygen itself, relative to a 
similar radical, acting the same part, it follows that, in an 
organic combination, the whole amount of oxygen is not 
employed in the formation of bases and acids, into the com- 
position of which enters neither chlorine nor sulphur, nor 
any other substance acting relative to a radical as an 
electro-negative principle. The hypothesis, therefore, laid 
down by Berzelius, like the principle upon which it is based, 
may sometimes be found insufficient. A strange relation 
between two sciences, both purporting the study of bodies, 
which, though dissimilar in nature, yet are formed and 
changed according to the same laws, the same principles, 
and often, even, according to the same theories. This 
stamps the hypothesis of the Swedish chemist with a degree 
of probability which is wanted in that of his opponents ; 
asserting that the hyponitric acid in compound radicals, 
