PRESENT PROBLEMS 



295 



of atoms, and, indeed, may be the chief factor in chemical combin- 

 ation. 



Professor Kahlenberg l has shown that a practically instantaneous 

 reaction takes place between hydrochloric acid and copper oleate in 

 a solution in dry benzene, although the solution does not conduct an 

 electric current and there is no evidence of the dissociation of either 

 the copper oleate or of the hydrochloric acid. Professor Kahlenberg 

 points out very justly that there is no apparent difference between 

 these reactions and those which take place in aqueous solutions, where 

 we have much independent evidence of the existence of ions. He 

 draws the conclusion that no ions exist in either case. It would seem 

 that we are equally justified in supposing that a substance not already 

 in the form of ions may separate into them under the influence of 

 a second substance with which it can react. 



Some time ago Mr. Lyon and myself 2 showed that the primary 

 reaction between chlorine and ammonia gives nitrogen tri-chloride, 

 nitrogen, and hydrochloric acid, and that these products are formed 

 in such proportion as to lead to the conclusion that three molecules 

 of ammonia react simultaneously with six molecules of chlorine. It 

 was pointed out at the time that the simplest explanation of this 

 result is to be found in supposing that chlorine atoms separate 

 during the reaction into positive and negative ions, while the ammonia 

 separates partly into positive nitrogen and negative hydrogen and 

 partly into negative nitrogen and positive hydrogen. 3 This hypothesis 

 has met with some approval, 4 but has also received the criticism 

 that such a dissociation as is supposed would result in the spon- 

 taneous decomposition of ammonia into nitrogen and hydrogen. 5 



1 J. Phys. Chem. 6, 1. 



2 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 23, 460. 



3 This was represented graphically thus: 



N 



N 



4 Stieglitz, J. Chem. Soc. 23, 707, 



5 Ztschr. Phys. Chem. 41, 378. 



