IONIZATION 5 5 



ments, and negative when given off from non-metallic elements. 

 Electrolytic molecules, according to this theory, are constantly 

 dissociating to form ions, and the ions are as constantly recom- 

 bining to form molecules. Since the salts of the various min- 

 eral elements are constantly being decomposed through elec- 

 trolytic ionization, they play an important part in all the life 

 phenomena; and since similar decomposition is induced by 

 currents of electricity, indications are that all the development 

 of living energy is in a sense electric. 



The ionizing electric properties of the life elements are a 

 matter of prime importance. We observe at once in the table 

 above that all the great structural elements which make up 

 the bulk of plant and animal tissues are of the non-metallic 

 group with negative ions, with the single exception of hydro- 

 gen which has positive ions. All these elements are of low 

 atomic weight, and several of them develop a great amount 

 of heat in combustion, hydrogen and carbon leading in this 

 function of the release of energy, which invariably takes place 

 in the presence of oxygen. On the other hand, the lesser com- 

 ponents of living compounds are the metallic elements with 

 positive ions, such as potassium, sodium, calcium, and mag- 

 nesium, calcium combining with carbon or with phosphorus 

 as the great structural or skeletal builder in animals. There is 

 also so much carbonaceous protein in the animal skeleton that 

 calcium in animals takes the place of carbon in plants only in 

 the sense that it reduces the proportion of carbon in the skele- 

 ton: it shares the honors with carbon. 



In general the electric action and reaction of the non- 

 metallic and the metallic elements dissolved or suspended in 

 water are now believed to be the chief phenomena of the in- 

 ternal functions of life, for these functions are developed always 

 in the presence of oxygen and with the energy either of the 



