I9M.] ELECTRON CONCEPTION OF VALENCE. 29 



or between one carbon atom and an atom of some other element 

 such as oxygen or nitrogen. In order to illustrate the present dis- 

 cussion with a definite case, a compound containing a double bond 

 between two carbon atoms in which the other bonds are combined 

 with similar groups, may be chosen. Two possible arrangements 

 suggest themselves with regard to the directions in which the cor- 

 puscles may be transferred to form the double bond. One carbon 

 atom may lose two corpuscles and the other may gain two in the 

 formation of the double bond. In this case, the valence of the first 

 carbon atom due to the double bond is -\- 2, of the second — 2. 

 The other possibility involves the gain and loss of one corpuscle by 

 each of the carbon atoms in forming the double bond. In this case, 

 the valence of each carbon atom due to the double bond will be 

 — I -|- I- Since the oxidation of an atom is defined as a decrease 

 of the negative charge or number of corpuscles, and reduction as 

 a decrease of the positive charge, these atoms united by the double 

 bond would be present in different states of oxidation in the dififerent 

 isomeric substances. It is evident therefore, that, with the electron 

 conception, the double bond may show different reactions with 

 various reagents depending upon the directions of the valences of 

 the double bond or the state of oxidation of the atoms united by the 

 double bond. Isomeric substances might exist in which the isomer- 

 ism would be due to the different directions of the valences of the 

 double bond. This subject has been discussed at some length in 

 previous papers.* 



Similar relations should be expected to hold with compounds 

 containing a triple bond. While not as much work has been recorded 

 in the literature for substances of this nature, it has been possible, 

 with the electron conception of valence, to explain some reactions of 

 compounds containing triple bonds much more satisfactorily than 

 with the older valence view. 



The general view of valence is that of a classification of chem- 

 ical compounds and reactions. Since the introduction of the elec- 

 tronic nature of valence into all branches of chemistry widens and 



*Cf. 5". of M. Quarterly, 30, 179 (1909); Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc, 32, 

 1167 (1910). 



