"A WARFARE OF MOLECULES." 8 1 



globes of carbon, each equal in magnitude to the globe 

 of the earth." 



Mr. Balfour Stewart very graphically describes 

 the clashing of molecules by chemical affinity, in a 

 comparison with a conflict between soldiers on a 

 battle-field ; where many are wounded, and some 

 " run away, and live to fight another day : " 



" There is a warfare going on in the clashing together 

 of the molecules, which, although continually maimed, 

 yet always recover themselves ; until perhaps some effec- 

 tive blow is struck, which dissevers them from com- 

 pound substances." 



Mr. Tyndall explains the extent of heat de- 

 veloped by the clashing of molecules in the pro- 

 cess of combustion of one pound of hydrogen 

 with eight pounds of oxygen, in the formation of 

 water, as follows : 



" We find that the concussion of one pound of hydro- 

 gen with eight pounds of oxygen is equal in mechanical 

 value to the raising of forty-seven million pounds one 

 foot high. I think I did not overrate matters when I 

 previously said that the force of gravity, as exerted near 

 the earth, is almost a vanishing quantity, in comparison 

 with the molecular forces developed. Bear in mind, too, 

 the distances which separate the molecules before com- 

 bination ; distances so small, as to be utterly immeasu- 

 rable. Still, it is in passing over these minute distances 

 that the molecules acquire a velocity sufficient to cause 

 them to clash together with this tremendous energy. . . . 



" After this combination of the molecules of one 

 pound of hydrogen with eight pounds of oxygen, form- 

 irig nine pounds of water in the state of steam of 212, 



6 



