Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Ivii. (19 13), No. 



XII. On some new Multiple Relations of the Atomic 

 Weights of Elementary Substances ; and on 

 the Classification and Transformations of Neon 

 and Helium. 



By Henry Wilde, D.Sc, D.C.L., F.R.S. 



{Reccivt'd and ) cad July 22nd, n^ij.) 



In several of my papers which have been published 

 by the Society during past years on the multiple pro- 

 portions of the atomic weights, special attention was 

 directed to the series Wyn on account of the magnitude 

 and importance of its primary members in the economy 

 of nature. Silicon (symbol Si), in combination with 

 oxygen, constitutes more than half the weight of the 

 earth's crust, and is the principal constituent of glass for 

 all the purposes of civilised life. Nitrogen (N), forms 

 nearly four-fifths of atmospheric air, and is an essential 

 element in organic nature. Iron (Fe), from its magnetic 

 and other physical qualities, is a necessity in modern 

 civilisation. Gold (Au), is of custhetic importance from 

 the brilliancy and permanence of its colour, while the 

 comparative rarity of its occurrence in nature admirably 

 adapts it as a standard of commercial value. 



It is not a little remarkable that while the physical 

 properties of most of the principal elements are well 

 determined within small fractional quantities, the atomic 

 weight and correlated specific heat of silicon are still 

 open to revision, notwithstanding the large amount of 

 attention which has been given by chemists to determine 

 these constants of nature. 



July 31st, igij. 



