CHAPTER II 



The Elements and the Soil 



The mass of the earth (and the atmosphere) is at present assumed 

 to be composed of certain elementary or indivisible substances, and of 

 combinations of these substances. The number of elements now 

 recognized by chemists is eighty-three. The names of these elements, 

 with the symbols that are used for convenience and brevity in ex- 

 pressing the combinations into which they unite, are given in the 

 table: — 



The elements and their symbols 



