Mathematics to Chemistry, 



273 



Prop. 1 . To determine the general effect of one, two, 

 or more tenacious atoms placed in a vessel, in which 

 ethereal atoms are compressed by a given force, so that of 

 any two contiguous atoms, the centre of one is within the 

 sphere of repulsion of the other ; the tenacious atoms being 

 separated by intervening ethereal matter. 



Let the ethereal matter be compressed in a spherical 

 vessel R T N (fig. 1 .), as by a given force on the piston T, 



Kg. 1. 



and let c, a tenacious atom, be introduced. Now, for a 

 moment, suppose the attraction of this atom not to act ; on 

 this supposition, the ethereal matter will continue to be 

 uniformly diffused through the vessel, quite to the surface 

 of the sphere of repulsion h k, within which the centres of 

 the contiguous atoms are supported against the given 

 pressure : let now the attraction of this atom have its full 

 and proper effect ; evidently the surrounding ethereal 

 matter will be attracted towards it (1st prin.), and con- 

 densed on the surface of repulsion h k, and the change of 

 tension in the neighbouring parts of the vessel will be 

 quickly restored to its former state by the given pressure 

 atT: hence, an atmosphere of ethereal matter, diminish- 

 ing in density from the surface outward, will be accumu- 

 lated, and retained on that surface, more or less dense, as 

 the absolute force of the atom is greater or less, or the 

 radius of its sphere of repulsion is less or greater. 



When there are several sorts of ethereal matter in the 

 vessel, those sorts which have the greatest absolute force, 

 or the least sphere of repulsion, will occupy the lower 

 strata of the atmosphere ; because, whenever the equili- 

 brium is disturbed, such atoms will be most easily moved 



VOL. IV. T 



