78 PHYSICS OF MATTER 



problems in physics and chemistry, and in the deductions based on 

 the laws of thermodynamics that have marked the development of 

 the new physical chemistry. 



It is under the influence of this method that Professor Ostwald 

 has been led to propose a theory of matter which does not recognize 

 the necessity of any atomic structure whatever. In a recent address, 

 he says, "It is possible to deduce from the principles of chemical 

 dynamics all the stoichiometrical laws; the law of constant proportion, 

 the law of multiple proportion, and the law of combining weights." 

 And he continues, "You all know that up to this time it has only been 

 possible to deduce these laws by the help of the atomic hypothesis. 

 Chemical dynamics has, therefore, made the atomic hypothesis un- 

 necessary for this purpose and has put the theory of the stoichio- 

 metrical laws on more secure ground than that furnished by a mere 

 hypothesis." And then farther on he continues, " What we call matter 

 is only a complex of energies which we find together in the same place. 

 We are still perfectly free if we like to suppose either that the energy 

 fills the space homogeneously, or in a periodic or grained way; the 

 latter assumption would- be a substitute for the atomic hypothesis." 

 And then he adds, "Evidently there exists a great number of facts 

 and I count the chemical facts among them which can be com- 

 pletely described by a homogeneous or non-periodic distribution of 

 energy in space. Whether there exist facts which cannot be de- 

 scribed without the periodic assumption, I dare not decide for want 

 of knowledge; only I am bound to say that I know of none." 



It is interesting and remarkable that this challenge to the atomic 

 theories of matter should come from the side of chemistry, the very 

 science for which the atomic theory of Dalton was conceived. Espe- 

 cially is it remarkable, in view of the measure of success that has 

 attended the explanation of the differences between such forms as 

 right and left rotating tartaric acids on the basis of molecular struc- 

 ture. And it is difficult to see how it is possible to give any satisfac- 

 tory explanation of these differences, simply on the basis of the laws 

 of energetics applied to a conception of matter as homogeneous. 



With reference to the view that " What we call matter is only a com- 

 plex of energies which we find together in the same place," it may be 

 said that we recognize different forms of energy only in association 

 with matter or ether; as heat, light, chemical energy, kinetical energy, 

 etc. Hence the term, "a complex of energies," can only mean the 

 total energy in a given region, unless we recognize some vehicle, 

 as matter or ether, in which the special manifestations of energy may 

 exist. This seems to be admitted tacitly by Ostwald himself, for a 

 little farther on he says, "The reason why it is possible to isolate a 

 substance from a solution is that the available energy of the sub- 

 stance is at a minimum." He thus distinguishes between the avail- 



