190 SUPER-ORGANIC EVOLUTION 



combinations whose power of oxygenation is equal 

 in each one of them, and continues to increase 

 regularly from left to right in the vertical columns : 

 thus, E 2 2 , R 2 O 3 , R 2 4 , R 2 O 5 , R 2 O 6 , E 2 O 7 . The 

 symbol of each metal bears a coefficient to indicate 

 its atomic weight, compared, as always, with 

 hydrogen; thus we see the first metal, lithium, 

 whose symbol is Li 7 ; the seven indicates the atomic 

 weight. 



From one element to another, and following the 

 columns that are arranged horizontally, there exists 

 an almost constant difference between the con- 

 secutive atomic weights. From Li, which is the 

 first, to Gl, which is the second, there is a difference 

 of 2 in the atomic weight : Li = 7 to Gl = 9, differ- 

 ence 2 ; from Gl = 9 to B = 11, difference 2 ; from 

 B = ll to C = 12, difference 1. From C = 12 to 

 Az = 14, difference 2 ; and so on. 



On the vertical side of the table there are similar 

 differences. From Li = 7 to Na = 23, difference 16 ; 

 from Gl = 9 to Mg = 24, difference 15; from fi- 

 ll to Al = 27, difference 16; from Al = 27 to 

 Sc = 45, difference 18. But this apparent con- 

 sistency in differences between the several elements 

 is not always complete. One part of the table is 

 subject to a net, formed by regular lines, and 

 if at the crossing of one of these lines for instance, 

 between Ga = 70 and In = 113 there is an un- 



