Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Iviii. (1914), No. 10 



X Carbon : its molecular structure and mode 

 of oxidation. 



By Maurice Copisarow, B.Sc. 



( Read Feb) nary 24th , 1914. Received for publication April 23rd, igi4.) 



As it often happens in the sphere of ideas the 

 conception of the mode of oxidation of carbon has 

 passed through several stages of development, gradually 

 expanding with the accumulation of observations and ex- 

 perimental evidence. 



In the last quarter of a century the reduction theory of 

 Lang {Zeit. Phys. Cheinie, 1888, 2, 62) has been replaced 

 by that oi gradual oxidatio7i by Baker {Phil. Trans. .^ 1888, 

 A 179, 571) and Dixon {J.C.S., 1896, 69, 774; 1899, 75. 

 630), which in its turn is likely to be substituted by the 

 theory of complexes propounded by Rhead and Wheeler 

 {J.C.S., 1910,97, 2181; 191 1, 99, 1 140; 1913, 103,461). 



After careful consideration we find that none of these 

 theories is either absolutely wrong or a complete repre- 

 sentation of the actual reaction. Each of them represents 

 a more or less partial view of the phenomenon, the 

 true explanation of which will require the correlation 

 of these theories with one another and all the facts known 

 up to now considered from a logical standpoint. In 

 making this attempt we shall postulate the following 

 three fundamental assumptions as a basis. 



I. A carbon molecule contains a large number of 

 atoms. (This is suggested by its high volatilisation point.) 



May 227id, 1^14. 



