MIRACLES OF SCIENCE 



chemistry. k While it is not given universal assent, it 

 finds support in an ever-widening series of observa- 

 tions. 



THE ZEEMAN EFFECT 



Regardless of theoretical explanations of the 

 conditions that obtain in our salt solution, it is 

 obvious that the particles into which the salt has 

 separated in the process of dissolving are so small 

 that they do not obstruct the light waves; otherwise 

 the solution of which they now form a part would 

 not be transparent. But if we were to thrust a plati- 

 num wire into the colorless solution and then hold 

 the wire in the flame of a Bunsen gas burner, the 

 flame will instantly take on a peculiar yellow color 

 which proves to the discerning eye that the parti- 

 cles of salt have been rendered luminous. If this 

 green flame is examined through a spectroscope, the 

 rays of light coming from it will be observed to be 

 split up into a characteristic series of lines. 



This particular series of spectral lines would not 

 appear in light emanating from anything but sodium. 

 No other substance in the world can duplicate that 

 record. The same series of lines might appear in 

 the light coming from the sun or from a star; but 

 they would prove the presence of sodium at the 

 source of light. 



These lines spell sodium in the language which 

 any chemist in the world can read; and the signature 

 of the spectrum cannot be forged or duplicated. 



What is true of sodium is true of every other 

 element. Each has a sign manual that it writes as 



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