54 



THE ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF LIFE 



of life elements is largely connected with processes which the 

 chemists term catalysis. 



Ionization J the actions and reactions of all the elements and 

 electrolytic compounds — according to the hypothesis of Arrhe- 

 nius, first put forth in 1887 — is primarily due to electrolytic 

 dissociation whereby the molecules of all acids {e. g., carbonic 

 acid, H2CO3), bases (e. g., sodium hydroxide, NaOH), and salts 

 {e. g., sodium chloride, NaCl) give off streams of the electrically 

 charged particles known as ions. Ionization is dependent on 

 the law of Nernst that the greater the dielectric capacity of 

 the solvent {e. g., water) the more rapid will be the dissociation 

 of the substances dissolved in it, other conditions remaining 

 the same. 



Ionization of the Elements thus far Discovered in Living Organisms 



' An ion is an atom or group of atoms carrying an electric charge. The positiv^e ions 

 (cations) of the metallic elements move toward the cathode; the negative ions (anions) 

 given off by the non-metallic elements move toward the anode. 



- Together with hydrogen conspicuous in living colloids and non-electrolytes — very 

 little in the indicated ionized forms. 



^ Occurs also, as NH4, in positive ions. Here the hydrogen overbalances the nitrogen. 



* Substances occurring in living matter. 



* Arsenic itself is a metal, but in living compounds it is an analogue of phosphorus 

 and occurs in negative ions when ionized. 



^ Pictet has obtained results indicating that liquid and solid hydrogen are metallic. 

 Hydrogen is metallic in behavior, though non-metallic in appearance. 



' Iron in living compounds is chiefly non-ionized, colloidal. Apparently this is also 

 true of copper, aluminum, barium, cobalt, lead, nickel, strontium, and zinc. As to ra- 

 dium, however, there is no information on this point. 



Thus, ions are atoms or groups of atoms carrying electric 

 charges which are positive when given off from metallic ele- 



