124 The Ohio Journal of Science [Vol. XVI, No. 4, 



formation of such ionized structures seems to us to be as likely 

 a basis of explanation of some of the values of the specific 

 charge of the ions obtained as the present partially accepted 

 theories of gas ions or ions characteristic of the elements present 

 when salts are heated under potential. The latter premise is 

 apparently correct in many instances, but the assumption of an 

 impurity, such as sodium, when the value of "m" lies near 

 23, or of potassium when the value of "m" lies near 39, seems 

 R trifle far fetched in some instances. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



1. The halogen compounds investigated exhibit broad 

 bands or continuous spectra which are probably due to the 

 formation of positively charged sub-compounds and subsequent 

 recombination with the negatively charged ions characteristic 

 of the radical of the salt. 



2. The bands and continuous spectra obtained are in 

 general agreement as to number, position and character for 

 the compounds of any specified haloid investigated. Continu- 

 ous spectra are exhibited by the chlorides and bromides and 

 several bands by the iodides. 



3. The radical and not the basic element of the compound 

 investigated appears to be the essential controlling factor. 



4. There is present in the initial stages of heating of 

 several of the compounds a dissociation into positive and 

 negative ions spectrally determined to be the two components 

 of the original compound. 



5. There is found in the discharge tube in nearly every case 

 a metallic deposit or mirror of the base of the salt investigated. 

 These deposits were also found when no external ionizing 

 agent other than heat was employed. These experiments 

 settle in the negative the question as to whether or not the 

 reducing action of the flame gases of a Bunsen burner is neces- 

 sary for the deposition of the metallic constituent of a salt. 



6. The evidence points to the conclusion that there is an 

 absorption spectrum of the vapor of the compound which 

 corresponds to its emission spectrum. 



Ohio State University. 



