412 STUDIES ON THE PHENOMENA OF CONTACT. 



CONCLUSION AND CONCLUSIONS. 



Although many of the experiments cited in tliis memoir are my own, and 

 others have been repeated and confirmed by myself on more than one occasion, 

 I could have wished, nevertheless; to have added more in confirmation of the 

 views whicli I have enunciated on the phenomena of contact. For, however 

 conclusive the experiments cited may seem to myself, it is not certain that they 

 will appear so to every one. But two things essential to all scientific research 

 fail mo at this moment, and prevent me even from completing researches already 

 commenced. For what concerns the present attempt, I trust that it has been 

 demonstrated to a certain point : 



I. That the allotropic states of bodies, analogous to ozone, are dne to a 

 phenomenon of polarity acting in special circmnstances, and having the effect 

 of nnidering the body, whicli is the subject of exi)eriment, much more 

 electro-negative, or more electro-positive, than it was ; and that the state which 

 we call in chemistry the "nascent state of bodies" is nothing else but this 

 allotropic state. Further, that all simple or compound bodies assume this 

 state at the moment when they enter into combination, and at the moment 

 when they abandon their combinations. 



II. That in general the phenomena attributed to the catalytic force, as well 

 as those which every other chemical reaction presents, admits of a very simple 

 explanation. 



III. That the facts observed and explained by the action of a force called 

 force of contact, or catalytic force, are due to an electro-chemical phenomenon, 

 known under the name of polarity, which, without being the cause of the 

 chemical action, accompanies the latter in all cases, may be verified by direct 

 experiment, and seems to be an essential condition of its manifestation. 



IV. That the force known imder the names of catalysis, force of contact, 

 or catalytic force, is a pure creation of the imagination. 



