348 Prof. Schonbein on the Connexion of 



greater than twice the preceding one) is equal to the number of 

 partitions of 2''~'-l into the parts 1, 1', 2, 4, ...2''"l Or, 

 again, it is equal to twice the sum of the number of partitions of 



0, 1, 2, ... 2'--_l respectively into the parts 1, 1', 2, 4, ... 2'""^ 

 (where the number of partitions of counts for 1). 



For example, the partitions of 0, 1, 2, 3, &c. with the parts 



1, 1', 2, ... are 



(.) 

 1, 1' 



1 + 1, 1 + 1', I' + l', 2 



1 + 1 + 1, 1+1+1', 1 + r+i', I'+i'+r, 3+1, 3+1', 



the numbers of which are 1, 3, 4, 6. Hence, by the first part 

 of the theorem, the number of 3-partitions is 6, and by the 

 second part of the theorem, the number of 4-partitions is 



2(l+3 + 4 + 6)=26. 



2 Stone Buildings, 



March 17, 1857. 



XXXVIII. On the Connexion of Catalytic Phenomena with 

 Allotropy. By C. S. Schonbein*. 



THE number of the phsenomena hitherto made known which 

 have been named catalytic, or actions by contact, has 

 already become tolerably large, and will daily increase. Both 

 Berzelius, who was the first to direct attention to these enigma- 

 tical phsenomena, and Mitscherlich, who has also devoted much 

 time to their investigation, have carefully abstained from ex- 

 pressing even an opinion as to their ultimate cause. For if the 

 one used the word " Catalysis,'' and the other the expression 

 " Action by contact," neither, if I have rightly understood them, 

 considered these terms to imply any explanation. A peculiar 

 class of facts was to be briefly distinguished ; and if these names 

 have been misused in science, these illustrious inquirers are cer- 

 tainly not to blame. 



I am of opinion that the time is now come when many of the 

 catalytic phsenomena may be better understood than hitherto ; 

 that is, may be referred to another series of facts which have 

 been made known within the last icvf years. I allude to the 

 remarkable capacity which many simple bodies possess of under- 

 going, under the influence of imponderable and ponderable 

 agents, essential changes in the complex Avhole of their proper- 

 ties. This kind of material change Berzelius has distinguished 



* Translated by Dr. E, Atkinson from Poggendorff's Annalen, vol. c. p. 1. 



