lO COPISAROW, Carbon : its vwlecnhir structure, etc. 



Clearing up the ground so far as we can as regards 

 the structure of carbon molecules, we shall proceed with 

 the consideration of the complexes of the general formula 

 C.O.. 



In the process of gradual oxidation C,0„ may be 

 regarded as a physico-chemical variable, depending upon 

 the allotropic form and extent of oxidation, x being 

 always equal to the number of atoms in a carbon mole- 

 cule, unless sub-complexes are also formed, when the 

 number of atoms in a carbon molecule will be a multiple 

 of X. 



Although the number of intermediate theoreticall}' 

 possible complexes is very large, still judging by the 

 actual ultimate products the final complexes may be : 



C,0, = C„0„ ; C„0„+, or C„0.,„ 



\ 

 only CO formed ; CO^tCO,, formed : only CO., formed. 



where n is the number of atoms in a carbon molecule, 

 and r the number of carbon atoms forming CO., molecules. 

 Therefore the general formula for the final complex 

 will be : 



where « is a variable depending upon temperature, 

 pressure or concentration of oxygen as well as the parti- 

 cular form of carbon, and varying between zero and n. 



Generalisations. 



I. Polyatomic molecules combining with one another 

 and o-iving finally single molecules, must either disintegrate 

 before the reaction (under the influence of T, P, etc.), or 

 form a complex or complexes, stable or unstable, as the 

 case may be. 



