342 A. P. MATHEWS. 



of sodium and chlorine. In this case, I assume, the condition is 

 that of Nef's polarized valencies. Particles in this condition he 

 assumes to be inert so far as valencies x and y are concerned. 

 Nef assumes that these polarized valencies open up and they 

 open up more readily under some conditions than under others. 

 For example, the polarized valencies of the carbon atom open up 

 when the carbon is joined to nitrogen as in the isocyanides far 

 more easily than they do when the carbon is joined to oxygen, 

 as in carbon monoxide. The opening up of the valence is, I 

 think, identical in character with the dissociation of a salt into its 

 ions. The opening of these valencies constitutes a dissociation 

 of valencies. It makes, of course, no difference theoretically 

 whether those valencies are on the same atom or on different 

 atoms. At any rate NH 3 goes over into : 



H e v , T + 

 H e-^(N) 

 H e/ -* e 2 



These are Nef's active particles. It is only when in this condi- 

 tion of dissociation that these valencies will combine. One of 

 these valencies (x) is positive ; the other (/) is negative. Such 

 particles, although they are really in an ionic form, cannot con- 

 duct the current because they are positive and negative at the 

 same time. 



These particles combine as follows : 



HQ-. / e OH 

 H-e^(N)< 

 H-e/ \e_ H 



+ 



Exactly the same reasoning applies to all atoms, including 

 bivalent carbon. It will be seen, therefore, that this explanation 

 which is but a trifling addition to the fundamental idea of Nef 

 of polarized valencies, would bring the respiratory reactions into 

 the domain of electrical reactions. No doubt this explanation 

 has occurred to others, and I give it only as a convenient picture. 

 It bridges so well the gap between Nef's views of organic re- 

 actions and Ostwald's hypothesis that inorganic reactions are 

 ionic that it may be useful. 



It will be noticed also that upon this view residual valencies 

 may be pictured as polarized valencies and in each case both pos- 



