53 From Matter to Man. 



In like manner with natural productions. Dalton 

 discovered that in order to form a distinct compound 

 each element would only combine with others in 

 certain definite proportions. In order to establish 

 the ratios of each, hydrogen, as the lightest element, 

 was fixed upon as the standard, and its weight 

 adopted as the unit of measurement. The combining 

 weight of oxygen was thus ascertained to be 16, 

 carbon 12, nitrogen 14, gold 196, etc. For example, 

 16 parts of oxygen and 2 parts of hydrogen form 18 

 parts of water. Half of those proportions, 8 and 1 

 form 9 parts of water. Any multiple of those 

 quantities, such as 24 and 3, 32 and 4, 40 and 5, form 

 respectively 27, 36, and 45 parts of water. But if 20 

 parts of oxygen be mixed with 6 of hydrogen, only 

 16 parts of oxygen and 2 of hydrogen unite, 8 parts 

 remain uncombined. 



A law of definite proportion also governs the 

 volume as well as the weight of combining elements, 

 but the numerical relation differs. Thus two volumes 

 of hydrogen unite with one of oxygen to form water. 



The principle of equivalence among the elements 

 is also interesting as confirming the deductions of 

 science regarding the universal subjection of matter 

 to inviolable law ; but, as the atomic weight of each 

 element occupies a simple arithmetical relation to its 

 equivalents, the former (the law of combining weights) 

 is the primary law in chemistry, and, coupled with 

 the principle of the duality of the elements in class, 

 it should without question be the dominating one. 



