BETWEEN THE ATOMIC WEIGHTS. 245 



whether they are due to hadepeiident causes, can of course, for the present, be only a 

 matter of speculation. There are, however, facts which seem to indicate that the vari- 

 ations are not matters of chance, but correspond to variations in the properties of the 

 elements. 



From the beautiful discovery of Professor Schonbein we have learnt that Oxygen has 

 two allotropic modifications, and that besides its ordinary condition it is capable of as- 

 suming another highly active state when its properties resemble those of Chlorine. 

 Cyanogen is only knoN^Ti in a quiescent state. The other haloids, Fluorine, Chlorine, 

 Bromine, and Iodine are only known in a highly active state. Now it will be seen on 

 examining the table, that the atomic weights of the highly active elements, as determined 

 by experiment, exceed slightly the theoretical numbers, and that where the affinities are 

 the most intense, in Fluorine, the deviation is the greatest. A similar fact may be 

 observed in the atomic weights of the members of the Six Series. Arsenic has been 

 proved to be capable of existing in two allotropic modifications. In its ordinary state, 

 it has a crystalline form belonging to the Rhombic System. In the other condition, in 

 which it may be obtained by sublimation at a low temperature, it crystallizes in regular 

 octahedrons. The other members of this series are probably isodimorphs with Arsenic. 

 The ordinary condition of Phosphorus is its monometric modification, while the rhombic 

 state seems to be the normal condition of Arsenic, Antimony, and Bismuth. Now the 

 atomic weights of the last three are either equal to, or slightly exceed, the theoretical 

 number, while that of the first fall short, perhaps even by a unit. Other facts, which 

 also tend to show that the deviations are not matters of chance, may be found in the 

 affiliations of the series. There are some elements which seem to be most remarkably 

 double-faced, having certain properties which connect them closely with one series, and 

 at the same time others which unite them nearly as closely to another. In such cases 

 we find that the atomic weight either falls naturally into both series, or, not corre- 

 sponding exactly with the theoretical number of the series to which the element prop- 

 erly belongs, it inclines towards that of the other, and sometimes equals it. Such is 

 the case with Chromium, Manganese, and Gold, as will be seen by referring to the affil- 

 iations at the bottom of the Nine Series. These various facts force upon me the con- 

 viction, that this relation between the atomic weights is not a matter of chance, but 

 that it was a part of the grand plan of the Framer of the universe, and that in the very 

 deviations from the law, there will, hereafter, be found fresh evidence of the wisdom 

 and forethought of its Divine Author. 



The general formulse for the Eight Series are 8 -f- « 8 and 4 -{- h 8. The two nuclei 

 correspond to two difi'erent sets of elements, or sub-series, one consisting of Oxygen, 



