ioo From Matter to Man. 



From these facts it is obvious that chemical com- 

 bination merely resolves itself into a name for a 

 particular phase of atomic action, for : — 



(i) Although the combination of simple substances, 

 such as sulphur, phosphorus, iron, etc., is not attributed 

 by chemists to chemical combination, yet the same 

 laws must govern the aggregation of the atoms of 

 simple homogeneous substances as the molecules of 

 compound homogeneous substances, such as water, 

 sugar, ice. Hence, from our premises, the chemical 

 combination of simple substances, by involving atomic 

 affinity, involves the operation of the primary law, 

 like-material-attraction. 



(2) In compound combinations where " only bodies 

 of different kinds rush together and unite," forming 

 first molecules and then aggregates of molecules, a 

 reciprocal combination of metallic and non-metallic 

 elements has occurred. Hence, the operative law in 

 this instance is the other primary law, dual or sexual- 

 material-selection, in conjunction with like-material- 

 attraction. 



(3) Lastly, as the solid products of chemical com- 

 bination more or less manifest magnetism, the co- 

 hesive law of polarity must also be involved in their 

 up-building ; consequently, chemical combination 

 merely constitutes the preceding condition to co- 

 hesion, both being effected by the primary laws. 



As chemical combination necessarily involves pro- 

 duction, its causes and modes of operation are, like 

 cohesion, more fully detailed in those chapters which 

 describe the evolution of substances. 



