246 WEIGHING OF 



Weighings of Oxygen. 



For oxygen he made three series of weighings according 

 to as many methods. He gives his results to 5 places. We 

 will leave them at that; but add the extremes and range to 

 the means. 



Mean. Extremes. Remarks. 



I. 9 Det., 1.42 879 907 838; 69. 



II. 9 Det., 890 952 853; 99. "globes" 

 6 Det., 869 880 851 ; 29. globe 3 " 

 All 15, 1.42 887 



III. 7 Det., 918 957 860; 97. from chlorate. 

 10 Det., 908 951 849; 102. " electrolys. 

 All 17, 1.42 917 



Morley gives the probable error of these three means to 

 the millionth of the gramme, of course. We will give them 

 to the fifth decimal; they are claimed to be 3, 5, 5 in the 

 fifth place, that is, the last decimal given above. 



But even if these were the probable errors of the means, 

 they would invalidate the fifth decimal. 



As a matter of fact, we see the third decimal changes! 

 But let us continue to talk in theyf/?^, as above printed. 



We find that the mean for " globe 3 " is 21 less than for 

 " globe 5." But 21 in fifth place amounts to or two-tenths 

 of a milligramme ! 



To what is this change due? To any thing about the gas? 

 Oh, no! 



The gas weighed is the same ; but it does not weigh the 

 same, because it is contained in a different glass globe! 



But don't Morley allow for the weight of his glass globes? 

 Surely, he does, with the utmost precision, and gives the 

 fuW data on pp. 29 and 30. 



Why then this difference? Well, that is just the trouble 

 with our Stasian exact chemists, such as Morley. 



They are so exact oh, it is absolutely wonderful to read! 



And when they get through, some strange error stares 

 them in the face, for which they cannot account. 



They may strain at the gnats but the camel they cannot 

 hide, although they don't mention him. 



