184 SIR WILLIAM RAMSAY 



loss of a relatively enormous amount of energy. This energy, 

 moreover, is in a highly concentrated form ; much energy is 

 contained in small volume or, what amounts to the same thing, 

 in small mass, using the word in the sense of quantity of matter. 



5. It appears that the irregular regularity of the numbers 

 representing the atomic weights can be represented on the 

 hypothesis that the addition or subtraction of definite groups 

 of electrons is the cause of their divergence from a perfectly 

 regular series. 



These arguments, however, can be regarded only as furnishing 

 strong ground for experimental investigation." 



The rest of the address is occupied with an account 

 of what has been done. This part of the subject has 

 already been referred to at sufficient length in a 

 previous chapter. 



In 1909 the International Congress of Applied Chem- 

 istry held its triennial meeting in London. Ramsay 

 was president, and a large part of the necessary pre- 

 liminary work fell on him and Lady Ramsay. The 

 congress opened on May 27th in the Albert Hall, with 

 the Prince of Wales (King George V.) in the chair. 

 On his left were the Princess of Wales, Dr. Wiley (chief 

 representative of the United States), then M. Armand 

 Gautier (representing France) and Professor E. Paternb 

 (representing Italy). On his right were Sir Henry 

 Roscoe (Honorary President), Ramsay (Acting Presi- 

 dent), Professor Otto N. Witt (Past President of the 

 Congress) representing Germany and Professor Svante 

 Arrhenius representing Sweden. On the platform were 

 many ambassadors and other distinguished men. After- 



