148 ELECTRIC VIEW OF MATTER [CH. xv. 



towards understanding the constitution of an atom 

 must remain in a state of suspended animation. 



The only portion of an atom that has been really 

 analysed, and so to speak understood, is that minute 

 but significant fraction of its mass which confers 

 upon it an electric charge, consequent chemical 

 affinity, and radiating power ; and, when we come to 

 ask what all the rest of the atom is composed of, all 

 we can say definitely is that the specific structure 

 must depend on the nature of the chemical element 

 under consideration. But if we consider the simplest 

 known atom, namely that of Hydrogen, we can make 

 various hypotheses somewhat as follows : 



(1) The main bulk of the atom may consist of 

 ordinary matter (whatever unknown entity is hidden 

 by that familiar phrase), associated with sufficient 

 positive electricity (whatever that may be) to 

 neutralise the charge belonging to the electron or 

 electrons which undoubtedly exist in connection with 

 each atom. 



(2) Or the bulk of the atom may consist of a 

 multitude of positive and negative electrons, inter- 

 leaved, as it were, and holding themselves together 

 in a cluster by their mutual attractions, either in a 

 state of intricate orbital motion, or in some static 

 geometrical configuration, kept permanent by appro- 

 priate connexions. 



(3) Or the bulk of the atom may be composed of 

 an indivisible unit of positive electricity, constituting 

 a presumably spherical mass or "jelly," in the midst 

 of which an electrically equivalent number of point 

 electrons are as it were ' sown ' ; these electrons 

 probably distributing themselves in rings, after the 

 fashion of Alfred Mayer's floating magnetic needles, 

 and revolving in regular orbits about the centre of 



