THE ATOM 93 



the atom, in so far, or inasmuch, as the grouping and 

 combination of atoms are involved. 



But that the facts of organic chemistry, the most 

 compHcated of phenomena and intimately bound up 

 with biochemistry, have been offering great dif- 

 ficulty to the planetary atom, simply means that it 

 takes time for a basic theory that answers to a broad 

 general fact to find complete application. 



The Bohr-Sommerfeld theory gives the model of 

 the single atom. In the interpretation of the single 

 atom, the series of the atoms, the theory has been 

 eminently successful. Careful scrutiny of the evi- 

 dence by those qualified to judge, and of duly crit- 

 ical temper, has led to the general acceptance of 

 the planetary dynamic atom. 



However, the dynamics of the atomic system and 

 of each of the individual constituents of the atom 

 are such that when two or more systems unite, 

 inevitably the nuclei of the atoms will exert marked 

 influence on each other, with consequent changes 

 in the positions of the orbital electrons that are 

 involved. Millikan explains: "When atoms unite 

 into molecules, or into solid bodies, these orbits 

 will undoubtedly be very largely readjusted under the 

 mutual influence of the two or more nuclei which 

 are now acting simultaneously upon them."^^ "These 



^^ The Electron, second edition, 230. 



