1 82 Life and Matter [chap. x. 



density or massiveness of its molecule, 

 indeed, the value of this constant is one of 

 the methods whereby matter displays its 

 interaction with and loading of the free 

 ether of space, and any such density as the 

 conventional nine times that of hydrogen 

 for the molecule of water would be wholly 

 unable to explain its immense dielectric 

 constant. 



The influence of the massiveness of a 

 water molecule is also displayed in its 

 power of tearing asunder or dissociating 

 any salts or other simple chemical substance 

 introduced into it ; common salt, for 

 instance, is found always to have a certain 

 percentage of its molecules knocked or torn 

 asunder directly it is dissolved in water, so 

 that, in addition to a number of salt mole- 

 cules in solution, there are a few positively 

 charged sodium atoms and a few nega- 

 tively charged chlorine atoms, existing in a 

 state of loose attraction to the water 

 aggregate, and amenable to the smallest 

 electric force ; which, when applied, urges 



