THE CHALLENGE OF STAS. 177 



These calculated values therefore are based upon O = 16 

 and Ag = 108, our standard values. 



Thus the absolute values for N may not suit the Stasians; 

 but I do hope they will understand, that for any value of 

 silver, near 108, any changes in the resulting calculated 

 value of N will vary in the same way, independent of the 

 precise value of the atomic weight of silver taken. 



Besides, I already here promise them to use the most 

 Stasian of all data " next time," namely those of Frank 

 Wigglesworth Clarke. 



I am afraid, that the Stasians, after reading both papers, 

 will hardly know which values they like the best, those 

 obtained by our own standard, or those calculated by means 

 of the Stasian auxiliary values for O and Ag, furnished by 

 Clarke. 



At any rate, 108 is the true atomic weight of silver as we 

 shall prove, and 107.92 is false, as are all the values of Stas. 

 But I here merely wish to call attention to the fact that the 

 difference of 0.08 on 108 can have no influence whatever on 

 the enormous systematic variations ive shall find in the atomic 

 weight of nitrogen, resulting from the syntheses of silver 

 nitrate made by Stas. 



The following table (copied from our True Atomic 

 Weights, p. 164) gives these results : 



Stas Syntheses of Silver Nitrate. 



Silver, Atomic Weight of Nitrogen. 



No. Grammes. Dried. Fused. 



i 77 14.092 14.070 



2, 3 150 14.097 14.078 



8 200 14.087 14.067 



4, 5 300 14.076 14.069 



6 True 405 14.050 14.041 



6 False 405 14.069 14.060 



We have here combined the neighboring 2, 3 and 4, 5; 



but on our diagram they are given separately. 



These values have been carefully entered on large scale 

 diagram, from which we have had a photographic reduction 

 made, see Plate II. On this diagram we have also inserted 



