THEORIES OF MATTER 3 



resistance to the further increase of its strain, and 

 thus gathers the utmost amount of actual or kinetic 

 energy. 



According to the former, the kinetic or vibration 

 theory, the atoms of each molecule are regarded as 

 being in a state of motion towards each other, that 

 is in the system of the molecule ; but the molecule 

 alone, that is a whole system of atoms, performs 

 independent movements. In the latter or condensa- 

 tion theory the pyknatoms, which correspond to the 

 separate atoms of the vibration theory, are con- 

 sidered to have will-power and to be independent. 

 Whichever theory we incline to, matter consists of 

 atoms which are always associated with energy and 

 are formed into molecules. Each atom or molecule 

 exhibits activity towards other atoms or molecules, 

 the general tendency of which is shown by attraction 

 or gravity, or, according to the theory of Vogt, by 

 condensation. 



Atoms are the smallest particles of matter which 

 can take part in a chemical action. In every 

 chemical action there is a rearrangement of the 

 energy as well as the matter. When water is boiled 

 it is transformed into steam, but the molecules are 

 not altered, when the steam is cooled it is water 

 still. If, however, the heat is applied in a greater 

 degree, as by passing electric sparks through the 

 steam, there is a great change in the nature of the 

 material, it does not condense when it is cooled, 

 but the water is disintegrated, and in place of 

 each molecule we have two atoms of hydrogen and 

 one of oxygen. The nascent atoms of H and 

 0, into which the compound molecule has been 



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