52 Larmok, Physical Aspect of the Atomic Theory. 



In dilute solution /ioclog(;;//z'), thus we should have a 

 relation ;//^7/A2/w,, = constant. Thus all the thermodynamic 

 equations of equilibrium will take the form of the con- 

 stancy of simple factorial ratios. Does this imply more 

 than mere statistics of chance encounters can provide? 

 It involves a further principle, that the reaction between 

 ;//,, ;;/., and 7//^,, is in equilibrium by itself, just as if the 

 other components containing the same elements were 

 prevented by constraint from changing. If this principle 

 of isolation of the equilibria of the component reactions 

 is warranted, it produces extensive simplification not 

 inherent in the customary statistical point of view : it can 

 for instance specify at once the proportions of the inter- 

 mediate compounds that are present, replacing a system 

 of complex linear equations by constancy of simple ratios. 

 If we may apply it to the problem on page 48, the 

 equations there deduced will be replaced by 



k^.ABC^t.BC .A, f.B. C=a.BQ 



so that 



k,.ABC=^ A.B.C- 

 a 



involving 



and also expressing the relative frequencies in which ABC 

 splits up into different intermediate compounds. 



In further exemplification of the simplification thus 

 introduced, consider the system N2O4, NO2, N, O ; if we' 

 are sure, experimentally, that N and O are infinitesimal 

 in a partial system NO., N, O, then they are so in the 

 wider system, for by the equilibrium of the partial 

 system N and O are determined. 



On this therinodynainic view it is in fact by trains of 

 single or double decomposition that sttbstances are formed. 



