38 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



a powerful induction coil, keeping the walls of the containing-vessel 

 at the temperature of liquid air, in the hope that any endothermic com- 

 pound which might be formed would be rapidly cooled, and would 

 survive the interval of temperature at which decomposition would take 

 place naturally. But these experiments have so far yielded only 

 negative results. There is some indication, however, that such com- 

 pounds are stable at 1,500°. It might be hoped that a study of the 

 behavior of the non-valent elements would have led to some conception 

 of the nature of valency; but so far, no results bearing on the question 

 have transpired. The condition of helium in the minerals from which 

 it is obtainable by heat is not explained ; and experiments in this direc- 

 tion have not furnished any positive information. It is always doubt- 

 ful whether it is advisable to publish the results of negative experi- 

 ments; for it is always possible that some more skilled or more fortu- 

 nate investigator may succeed, where one has failed. But it may be 

 chronicled that attempts to cause combination between the inactive 

 gases and lithium, potassium, rubidium, and caesium have yielded no 

 positive results; nor do they appear to react with fluorine. Yet condi- 

 tions of experiment play a leading part in causing combination, as has 

 been well shown by Moissan with the hydrides of the alkali-metals, and 

 by Guntz, with those of the metals of the alkaline earths. The proof 

 that sodium hydride possesses the formula KaH, instead of the formerly 

 accepted one, removes one difficulty in the problem of valency ; and 

 SrH 2 falls into its natural position among hydrides. 



A fertile field of inorganic research lies in the investigation of 

 structure. While the structure of organic compounds has been eluci- 

 dated almost completely, that of inorganic compounds is practically un- 

 developed. Yet efforts have been made in this direction which appear 

 to point a way. The nature of the silicates has been the subject of 

 research for many years by F. W. Clarke; and the way has been opened. 

 Much may be done by treating silicates with appropriate solvents, acid 

 or alkaline, which differentiate between uncombined and combined 

 silica, and which in some cases, by replacement of one metal by another, 

 gives a clue to constitution. The complexity of the molecules of 

 inorganic compounds, which are usually solid, forms another bar to 

 investigation. It is clear that sulphuric acid, to choose a common in- 

 stance, possesses a very complicated molecule; and the fused nitrates 

 of sodium and potassium are not correctly represented by the simple 

 formula? NaN0 3 and KN0 3 . Any theory of the structure of their 

 derivatives must take such facts into consideration ; but we appear to be 

 getting nearer the elucidation of the molecular weights of solids. 

 Again, the complexity of solutions of the most common salts is main- 

 tained by many investigators ; for example, a solution of cobalt chloride, 

 while it undoubtedly contains among other constituents simple mole- 

 cules of CoCl 2 , also consists of ions of a complex character, such as 



