Foundations of the atomic theory : comprising papers and extracts / by John Dalton, William Hyde Wollaston, and Thomas Thomson.

Date:
1893
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Foundations of the atomic theory : comprising papers and extracts / by John Dalton, William Hyde Wollaston, and Thomas Thomson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    If there are two bodies, A and B, which are disposed to combine, the following is the order in which the com- binations may take place, beginning with the most simple: namely, I atom of A + I atom of B = I atom of C, binary. 1 atom of A + 2 atoms of B = I atom of D, ternary. 2 atoms of A + I atom of B = I atom of E, ternary. I atom of A + 3 atoms of B = I atom of F, quaternary. 3 atoms of A + I atom of B = I atom of G, quaternary. &c. &c. The following general rules may be adopted as guides in all our investigations respecting chemical synthesis. ist. When only one combination of two bodies can be obtained, it must be presumed to be a binary one, unless some cause appear to the contrary. 2d. When two combinations are observed, they must be presumed to be a binary and a ternary. 3d. When three combinations are obtained, we may expect one to be a binary, and the other two ternary. 4th. When four combinations are observed, we should expect one binary, two ternary, and one quaternary, &c. 5th. A binary compound should always be specifically heavier than the mere mixture of its two ingredients. 6th. A ternary compound should be specifically heavier than the mixture of a binary and a simple, which would, if combined, constitute it; &c. 7th. The above rules and observations equally apply, when two bodies, such as C and D, D and E, &c. are combined. From the application of these rules, to the chemical facts already well ascertained, we deduce the following conclusions; 1st. That water is a binary compound of hydrogen and oxygen, and the relative weights of the two elementary atoms are as 1 : 7, nearly ; 2d. That ammonia is a binary compound of hydrogen and azote, and the relative weights of the two atoms are as 1 : 5, nearly; 3d. That nitrous gas is a binary compound of azote and
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