501: Professor W. Chandler Boberts- Austen [March 15, 



mechanism of molecules and atoms in dealing with chemical pro- 

 blems, but would simply accumulate evidence as to the physical 

 circumstances under which chemical combination and dissociation 

 take place, viewing these as belonging to the same class of phe- 

 nomena as solidification, fusion, condensation and evaporation. They 

 do not even insist upon the view that matter is minutely granular, 

 but in all cases of change of state, make calculations on the basis of 

 work done, viewing changed " internal energy " as a quantity which 

 should reappear when the system returns to the initial state. 



A verse, of some historical interest, may appeal to them. It 

 occurs in an old poem to which I have already referred as being 

 connected with the 'Roman de la Rose,' and it expresses nature's 

 protest against those who attempt to imitate her works by the use 

 of mechanical methods. The " argument " runs thus : — 



" Comme Nature se complaint, 

 Et dit sa douleur et sun plaint 

 A nng sot souffleur sophistique 

 Qui n'use que d'art mechanique." 



If the " use of mechanical art " includes the study of chemistry 

 on the basis of the mechanics of the atoms, I may be permitted to 

 offer the modern school the following rendering of nature's plaint: — 



How nature sighs without restraint, 

 And grieving makes her sad complaint 

 Against the subtle sophistry 

 Which trusts atomic theory. 



An explosion such as is produced when aluminium and oxide of 

 lead are heated in presence of each other, which suggested the 

 reference to the old French verse, does not often occur, as in most 

 cases the reduction of the rarer metals by aluminium is effected 

 quietly. 



Zirconium is a metal which may be so reduced. I have in this 

 way prepared small quantities of zirconium from its oxide, and have 

 formed a greenish alloy of extraordinary strength by the addition of 

 t 2 q per cent, of it to gold, and there are many circumstances which 

 lead to the belief that the future of zirconium will be brilliant and 

 useful. I have reduced vanadium and uranium from its oxide by 

 means of aluminium as well as manganese, which is easy, and 

 titanium, which is more difficult. Tungsten, in fine specimens, is 

 also before you, and allusion will be made subsequently to the uses 

 of these metals. At present I would draw your attention to some 

 properties of titanium which are of special interest. It burns with 

 brilliant sparks in air ; and, as few of us have seen titanium burn, it 

 may be well to burn a little in this flame. [Experiment performed. | 

 Titanium ajmears to be, from the recent experiments of M. Moissan, 

 the most difficultly fusible metal known; but it has the singular 



