CARBON 37 



This scheme of the reaction in its complete form illustrates 

 in a clear manner not only the various stages of the process of 

 oxidation, but also the partial character of the theories advanced 

 up to now with the object of clearing up this important problem. 



The stages I and II of the reaction are represented by the 

 theory of Rhead and Wheeler, stage III is the part of reaction 

 elucidated by Baker and Dixon; stage III being reversible in 

 character (above 6oo° C. under certain conditions) affords Lang's 

 theory, too, the possibility of finding a place in the series of 

 doctrines. Combining these apparently contradictory theories 

 we attain a truer aspect upon the phenomenon of combustion. 



In the process of gradual oxidation C^O^, may be regarded as 

 a physico-chemical variable, depending upon the allotropic form 

 and extent of oxidation, x being always equal to the number of 

 atoms in a carbon molecule, unless sub-complexes are also 

 formed, 1 when the number of atoms in a carbon molecule will be 

 a multiple of a:. 



Although the number of intermediate theoretically possible 

 complexes is very large, still, judging by the actual ultimate 

 products, the final products may be : 



only CO formed ; CO and CO-^ formed ; only COo formed 



where n is the number of atoms in a carbon molecule, and r 

 the number of carbon atoms forming C0 2 molecules. Therefore 

 the general formula for the final complex will be : 



where a is a variable depending upon temperature, pressure 

 or concentration ol oxygen, as well as the particular form of 

 carbon, and varying between zero and n. 



1 The lower oxides obtained by Brodie (C 4 3 ), Berthelot (C s O,) (Ann. Chim. 

 Phys. 1906, ix. 173), Diels and Wolf (C 3 0.,) (Ber. 1906, 39, 689), and several others 

 have all been prepared in quite an indirect manner ; whether they have a 

 momentary existence as sub-complexes in the process of combustion or not is so 

 far a matter of conjecture. 



In case of the diamond, which has a rigid configuration, it is quite possible that 

 it undergoes on heating firstly an allotropic transformation and only secondly 

 the new modification forms the complex. 



