CHEMISTRY. 6*39 



tapositioii with an exteuded oeueializatioii of the analogy of the ele- 

 ments with the hydrocarbon radicals. A careful consideration of the 

 relations between certain physical properties and the atomic weights of 

 the elements leads almost irresistibly to the conclusion that the ele- 

 ments are analogous to the hydrocarbon radicals in both form and func- 

 tion. This is a conclusion which if true would further lead us to infer 

 that the elements are not elements in the strict sense of the term, but 

 are built up of (at least) two primary elements, A (=carbon at. wt. 12) 

 and B (aether, at. wt.— 2), which by their combination produce a series 

 of compounds (viz, our present elements) analogous to the hydrocarbon 

 radicals. If this theory be true the i)eriodic law follows as a matter of 

 course, and we should therefore be able to represent the elements by 

 some such general formula as An B 2n-\-{2—op), analogous to that for the 

 hydrocarbon radicals C„H2„+(2_x) in which w=the series and x the groui> 

 to which the element or hydrocarbon radical belongs. Assuming the 

 truth of the theory here advanced, it is interesting to observe that 

 whereas the hydrocarbons are compounds of hydrogen and carbon, the 

 chemical elements would be comi^osed of carbon with aether, the two 

 sets of bodies being generated in an exactly analogous manner from 

 their respective elements. There would, hence, be three primitive ele- 

 ments, viz, carbon, hydrogen, and aether. Finally, this theory would rcv 

 move the chief objections which have been urged against the periodic 

 law, whilst the existence of elements of identical atomic weights and 

 isomeric with one another would be possible. May not Ni and Co, Ku 

 and Eh, Os and Ir, and some of the rare earth metals be isomers in this 

 sensed (Report B. A. A. S. in JSFature, xxxii, 539.) 



Relations bettceen the Atomic Weights and the Physiological Functions of 

 the Elements (by Fausto Sestini). — A study of the following table con- 

 taining the elements entering into the formation of the organic matter 

 of plants, shows that no element having an atomic weight higher than 5G 

 takes a direct part in producing organic bodies : 



Indispensable. Useful. 



Electro-negative \ ^=1^; N=14; 0=16; ) ^^^28; Cl=35-5. 

 ( P=31; S=32 J 



Electro-positive \ ^=^' ^§'=^^5 K=39; [ ^.^^^'d; Mn=55. 

 ^ \ Ca=40;Fe=56 ) ' 



Among the remaining elements of the first four groups of the periodic 

 system which occur in the ashes of certain j)lauts are Al=27'3 in 

 lycopodium and equisetum, Li=7 in tobacco and vines, Fl=19 in 

 many higher plants, Cu=63, Zn=65, and Br (also I) in algae. The 

 elements following copper up to uranium act like poison upon jdants 

 and animals. The soluble compounds of most of the elements having 

 higher atomic weights than 56 coagulate albumen, exert a very injurious 

 inrluence on animals, and act to a certain extent as antiseptics. [Qazz. 

 fihim. itaUana, xv, 107.) 



