REED RELATION BETWEEN VALENCE & ATOMIC WEIGHT. 65 1 



current equals that produced by the vortex-rings, the polarities 

 become zero and the magnets fall apart. If the separation of the 

 magnets breaks the circuit, the original magnetism due to the vor- 

 rex draws together the poles of each magnetic ring. 



During the short interval between the separation of the ions 

 and the closing of the magnetic ring the atom is in the "nascent 

 state." 



If the capacity of M, Fig. 2, is greater than that of M', there 

 will be a differential magnetic field between NS' and SN', which 

 represents the tendency of the ions to either change capacity or 

 take up additional atoms, either of which will reduce the polarity 

 of the molecule to zero. 



In all cases where O is evolved in the electrolytic cell, it ap- 

 pears at the positive pole. There is no impropriety, therefore, in 

 assuming that O is electro-negative to all other atoms. 



Certain general considerations, which are too well known to 

 need repeating here, have led to the adoption of sixteen as the 

 atomic weight and two as the valence of O. Hence, in this dis- 

 cussion the valence of O in all compounds is minus txvo. 



When an alkali metal — Na, K, R(5, or Cj — is evolved in the 

 electrolytic cell, it invariably appears at the negative pole and is 

 therefore electro-positive. As Qs is the most highly electro-positive 

 •of all known substances, it is safe to assume that this metal has a 

 valence of plus one in all compounds. The valence of all other 

 elements in any given compound can be determined by reference 

 to O or its equivalent, and C^ or some other alkaline metal. 



As a rule all metals, including H, are -(- in binary compounds, 

 while the non-metals are — . In ternary and more complex com- 

 pounds both metals and non-metals are positive to oxygen. Those 

 non-metals which exhibit both positive and negative valences 

 possess, almost without exception, a well marked maximum and 

 ^ well marked minimum which differ from each other by eight 

 units of valence. This is shown in the following table : 



