REED RELATION BETWEEN VALENCE & ATOMIC WEIGHT. 673 



Comment upon the deviation of Y(5, Sm, and all other elements 

 of doubtful atomic weight, is unnecessary, since their testimony is 

 of little or no value one way or the other. 



If we acknowledge C/ = 35, as explained above, it will involve 

 changes in the atomic weights of many other elements. For in- 

 stance, according to our best determinations* P/ would then be 

 192.5. 



The deviation of A^ can be explained only by acknowledging 

 it to have a maximum, -\-t,, in sylvanite, (A^A«)2Te3. 



We have, including those whose deviation can be explained, 

 not less than fifty-Jive elements which bear testimony in favor of 

 the law ; five, M«, Qu^ Z«, Qd and I«, which at present seem 

 irreconcilable ; and sixteen, columbium, decipium, didymium ,3, 

 holmium, mosandrum, philippium, rogerium, terbium, thorium, 

 thulium, yttrium /9, osmium, thallium, gallium, praseodym and 

 neodym, which cannot at present give testimony either way. 



If we include \n in this list of doubtful elements there remain 

 onlv four obstinate ones, C«, M«, Qd and 7j7i. 



We find additional proof of the existence of negative valence 

 or "bonds" in reactions involving oxidation and reduction. 



Whenever metallic bromides, iodides, sulphides, selenides, &c., 

 are treated with powerful oxidizing agents, such as HNO3, C/, 

 HC/O3, HM«0^, &c., the first effect is the separation of the bro- 

 mine, iodine, sulphur or selenium in the free state. 



If the oxidizing agent is in great excess and is very powerful, the 

 action will not stop here^ but the free elements will be further 

 oxidized toHBrOg, HIO3, HgSO^, and HgSeO^, respectively. 

 I say further oxidized because the reaction is one of oxidation 

 from the beginning. We cannot suppose that strong oxidizing 

 agents always begin their action by reducing non-metallic ele- 

 ments to the free state and then re-oxidizing them to a higher 

 degree. This is contrary to all our ideas of the nature of an oxi- 

 dizing agent. 



Besides, these same oxidizing agents never act that way upon 

 metallic elements. If a metallic oxide is capable of being further 

 oxidized, it is never reduced during the process to the free state 

 by the substance which increases its oxidation. In other words, 



* Seubert, Chent. News, 128S, page 51. 



