THE TERNARY COMPOUNDS OF THE ELEMENTS.
As the various elementary substances unite with each other to form Binary Compounds, so these binary compounds again unite and form Ternary Compounds.
Compound bodies however do not, as a rule, unite with simple elements. In illustration, take the action of Nitric Acid upon Silver, described at [page 12]. No effect is produced upon the metal until Oxygen is imparted; then the Oxide of Silver so formed dissolves in the Nitric Acid. In other words, it is necessary that a binary compound should be first formed, before the solution can take place. The mutual attraction or chemical affinity exhibited by compound bodies is, as in the case of elements, most strongly marked when the two substances are opposed to each other in their general properties.
Thus, acids do not unite with other acids, but they combine instantly with alkalies; the two mutually neutralizing each other and forming "a salt."
Salts therefore are ternary compounds produced by the union of acids and bases; common Salt, formed by neutralizing Muriatic Acid with Soda, being taken as the type of the whole class.
General characters of the Salts.—An aqueous solution of Chloride of Sodium, or common Salt, possesses those characters which are usually termed saline; it is neither sour nor corrosive, but, on the other hand, has a cooling agreeable taste. It produces no effect upon litmus and other vegetable colours, and is wanting in those energetic reactions which are characteristic of both acids and alkalies; hence, although formed by the union of two binary compounds, it differs essentially in properties from both.
All salts however do not correspond to this description of the properties of Chloride of Sodium. The Carbonate of Potash, for instance, is an acrid and alkaline salt, and the Nitrate of Iron reddens litmus-paper. A perfectly neutral salt is formed when a strong acid unites with an energetic base; but if, of the two constituents, one is more powerful than the other, the properties of that one are often seen in the resulting salt. Thus the Carbonate of Potash is alkaline to test-paper, because the Carbonic Acid is feeble in its reactions; but if Nitric Acid and Potash are brought together, then a Nitrate of Potash is produced, which is neutral in every sense of the term.
The Chloride of Sodium and salts of a similar kind are freely soluble in water, but all salts are not so. Some dissolve only sparingly, and others not at all. The Chloride and Iodide of Silver are examples of the latter class; they are not bitter and caustic like the Nitrate of Silver, but are perfectly tasteless from being insoluble in the fluids of the mouth.
It is seen therefore from these examples, and many others which might be adduced, that the popular notion of a saline body is far from being correct, and that, in the language of strict definition, any substance is a salt which is produced by the union of an acid with an alkali, independent of the properties it may possess.