Newton, Leibnitz, and Boscovick to the Atomic Theory. 



the circle of six of whioh it consists, is any how thrown out. In which 

 case, this destruction of the molecule will be indicated by the appearance 

 of 3 H, for every particle of double vapour destroyed : 

 for the rejected element (see the accompanying figure) 

 consists of two loaded hydrogens, which on being set 

 free will give three light hydrogens. 



The five double elements which remain are then 

 capable of closing at the poles, while by the same 

 movement they expand at the equator, so as to pro- 

 duce a most exquisite molecule (fig. N), of which the 

 following must be the characteristic properties. It 

 is so perfect in a morphological point of view, that 

 it must be possessed of great repose, or, in the lan- 

 guage of the laboratory, it must be a very inactive or inert sub- 

 stance. Its atomic weight must be 84 — 15 or 14, = 69 or 70 ; and 

 therefore when H = 1, equal from 138 to 14. 

 Its specific gravity, in the fully insulated or aeri. 

 form state, must be fourteen times as great as 

 that of hydrogen, viz., '97 ; for the law of assi- 

 milation provides that all fully insulated and 

 individualized molecules, that is, the molecules 

 of all aeriforms, shall have equal volumes, or at 

 least volumes in the simplest ratios to each 

 other. Its action upon light, that is, its refrac- 

 tive power, must be lower than that of the 

 double \apour which we have already constructed and designated by the 

 symbol A m ; still lower than that of an equal quantity of the single 

 vapour, or aq ; and vastly inferior to that of the first constructed 

 species, which we have found to represent hydrogen. Now, in all these 

 respects this molecule agrees in its properties with nitrogen, and may 

 therefore be taken to represent it, while the parent molecule agrees with 

 ammonia, and may be taken to represent it. 



Oxygen. 



On comparing the form of the particle representing nitrogen with 

 the form of that representing steam, it will be seen that they are of quite 

 different orders, and wholly unconformable. That of steam is, in all its 

 features, hexagonal, that of nitrogen is pentagonal. However closely, 

 therefore, they be pressed together, they cannot unite conformably, 

 organically, or chemically. They both exist, however, under the law of 

 assimilation. Each nmst, therefore, tend to assimilate the other to 

 itself, and ultimately that which is the weaker of the two, must yield 



