NITROGEN. LORD RAYLEIGH. 167 



Taking the density of oxygen at exactly 16, these weights 

 give the density of nitrogen 14.0007. 



Hence for O = 16 exactly, these weighings give 

 N = 14.0007. 



The possible departure of the atomic weight of nitrogen 

 is accordingly less than o.ooi from our standard value of 

 14 exactly. 



We have used these determinations of Leduc in our Gen- 

 eral Chemistry, 1897, p. 378. 



So much for the experimental work of Leduc. 



Now let us look at the other side, to ascertain whether 

 Leduc is scientifically reliable. 



Leduc's Atomic Weights. 



This is the richest thing in atomic weights which I have 

 found yet; it was presented to the Academy of Sciences of 

 Paris by Professor Lippmann, on August 2, 1897. See 

 Comptes Rendus, T. 123, pp. 299-301 ; 1897. 



The beginning and closing of this communication are 

 too characteristic of the school and routine, and the utter 

 one sidedness peculiar to men of modern science in some of 

 the highest positions. 



The opening words of Leduc (1. c., p. 299) are: 



"Taking as basis O = 16, I have admitted for the atomic 

 i( weight of carbon, C = 12.004, which seems to be within 

 11 i oo 0(0 according to the experiments of Mr. Van der Plaat 

 "(Synthesis of C 02)." 



By the way, this V. d. P. never made an atomic weight 

 determination of true carbon. See p. 105, supra. 



The last paragraph of this same article (1. c., p. 301), is: 



"As to sulphur, the experiments of Stass (synthesis of the 

 " sulphide) give the atomic weight 32.056. / shall adopt 

 <c this number, although the experiments of Dumas lead to 

 " 31.986 and those of Erdmann and Marchand to 32.005. " 



Leduc constantly deprives the Hollander of the terminal 

 s in his name, and as constantly attaches it to that of Stas, 

 so as to make it Stass a very unpleasantly suggestive one 

 to English readers. Stas was not that kind of an animal, 

 any way. 



