f chemical substances into acids, bases and salts, and the distinctions and
analogies between each of these classes, have been brought into especial prominence.
The general relationship between the three classes, and the general principles
prevailing in the preparation of each, must be fully understood before aught
but the merest smattering of chemical science can be known.
Chapters XV.-XXI. should be mastered as a key to the subsequent parts of the
book.
The mathematical and theoretical parts of Chemistry it has been thought best
to intersperse throughout the book, placing each where it seemed to be especially
needed; in this way, it is hoped that the tedium which pupils find in studying
consecutively many chapters of theories will be avoided, and that the arrangement
will give an occasional change from the discussion of facts and experiments
to that of principles. In these chapters additional questions should be given,
and the pupil should be particularly encouraged to make new problems of his
