318 MODERN SCIENCE READER 



of the atom has been of great help to chemists, and, as long 

 as it continues to be helpful, it will be clung to. 



If the views held by the majority of chemists are true, 

 the science of chemistry is the science of atoms. The 

 astronomer has to deal with infinite distances and the 

 largest masses in the universe. The chemist, on the other 

 hand, has to deal with the shortest distances and the minut- 

 est particles of matter. The astronomer uses the telescope, 

 but there is no microscope that can carry us to the atom. 

 The astronomer observes points of light, follows their 

 motions, and works out the laws that govern them. The 

 chemist has troubles of another kind. He cannot deal 

 directly with single atoms. No matter how small a quan- 

 tity of an element he may use in his experiment, he has to 

 deal with a large number of atoms. Every time he per- 

 forms an experiment millions of atoms come into play. He 

 studies his substances before action and after action. New 

 substances are formed, and he concludes that the atoms 

 have arranged themselves in different ways. What he 

 knows is that new substances with new properties are 

 formed. He knows this whether atoms are realities or not, 

 but the atom helps him to form a picture of what probably 

 takes place throughout the masses with which he is dealing. 

 The atoms are as far removed from the intellectual gaze of 

 the chemist as the most remote stars from the eye of the 

 astronomer. 



Yet the chemist talks about the way in which atoms are 

 combined with one another ; and he draws figures, and con- 

 structs models to show it all. And he doesn't do this for 

 his amusement, but because he is helped by it. He talks 

 in the language of chemistry, as the mathematician talks in 

 the language of mathematics. Some day he will, no doubt, 

 understand the language better. Probably the language 

 itself will be changed, and that which he now uses will 

 seem like the prattle of an infant. 



One other side of chemistry must be turned into view 

 before I can close. I am not sure that I can make myself 



