CSEXICAL ARRANGEMENT OF BODIES.
I. Substances not yet decomposed, called simple principles.
1. Principles of doubtful existence. These are (a) heat, (b) light, and the causes of (c) galvanic, 1/4d) electric, and (e) magnetic phenomena. These ener gies cannot be confined in vessels ; they are not measurable by figured extension or by gravity; we know nothing of their compounds; and they accompany and are excitable in other bodies by manipu lation: from which, and other reasons, they have been thought to be modes, properties, or occasional habitudes of bodies. But, on the other hand, they possess so many distinctive characters, that a large class of philosophers ascribe them to certain peculiar fluids, or to one common fluid. See ETHER.
2. Simple principles, which have been exhibited only in the gaseous form, un less in combination These are (a) oxy gen, (b) hydrogen, (c) azote, or nitrogen. The character here assumed for classifi cation might seem insufficient, as being merely relative to our present means of attempting to condense these bodies, if there were not some strong distinctive circumstances belonging to them. In particular, oxygen with hydrogen forms wa er, of which an immense ocean co vers two-thirds of the surface of our planet; and oxygen with nitrogen forms the air of that atmosphere which sur rounds us on all sides to the height of many miles, and would, if it could be compressed to the density of common earth, cover all the land and sea to the depth of at least fifteen feet: and (d) the unknown base of muriatic acid ought probably to be admitted in this place.
3. SiMple principles, not combustible. These are (a) earths, distinguished by a want of fusibility, volatility, and solubi lity in water, which in most species is almost total. There are nine at present known ; namely, silex, alumina, lime, magnesia, barytes, strontites, zircon, it tria, glucine : and (6) alkalies, which are fusible, volatile by a red heat, and very soluble in water: three are known ; pot ash. soda, ankl ammonia.
The recent decomposition of the two former alkalies (see ALKALI,) and the well known composition of the latter, must with propriety exclude them from their present situation but they are re fained in this class of inembustibles tin til the confirmation and developement of those facts shall have perfectly settled their place.
4. Simple principles, conbustible, and in some aggregations transparent. These are, (a) diamond, or carbon ; (b) sul phur; and (c) phosphorus. The two latter of these combine readily, and burn with the oxygen of the atmosphere; the latter, in various of its compounds and species,appears to be impeded in its com bustion by she force of cohesion in the ag gregate.
5.Simple principles,combustible,opaque in every state of solid aggregation, and peculiarly brilliant by reflection; metals. Of these, 28 are at present known. 1. Gold; 2.Platina; 3. Silver ; 4. Mercury; 5. Iridium; 6.. Osmium ; 7. Rhodium ; 8. Palladium; 9. Copper; 10. Iron ; 11. Lead; 12. Tin ; 13. Zinc; 14. Bismuth ; 15. Antimony ; 16. Nickel ; 17. Cobalt ; 18. Manganese ; 19. Arsenic ; 20.-Tellu rium ; 21. Chrome ; 22. Molybdena; 23. Tunsten ; 24. Titanium ; 25. Uranium ; 26. Columbium ; 27. Tantalium ; 28. Ce rium.
H. Primary compounds, or combination* of two simple principles.
1. Water, composed of oxygen and hydrogen.
2. Ammonia ; composed of hydrogen and azote. And in this place we may expect hereafter to place the other alka lies and earths.
3. Oxides ; composed of combustible principles, particularly metals, combined with oxygen. These are, (a) oxides of carbon ; as plumbago, common char coal, carbonic oxide of azote-of sul phur,-of phosphorus; and (b) of the metals.
4. Acids ; combustibles, or metals combined with a larger portion of oxy gen than exists in their oxides. The oxy genated substance is called the base of the acid, and there are acids with two, and perhaps more bases. Rejecting, for the present, their modifications, arising from more or less of oxygen, they are, the sulphuric, nitric, muriatic, phospho ric, carbonic, fluoric, boracic, arsenic, molybdic, chromic, tungstic, columbic, acetic, benzoic, moroxylic, camphoric, oxalic, mellitic, tartaric, citric, sebacic, saclactic, lactic, malic, suberic, formic, prussic, gallic.