262 THE CHEMISTKY OF THE SUN. [CHAP. 



or the chemical molecule, or what you will, must be a very 

 complex thing indeed. If the lower spectrum represents that 

 of a complex body such as iron, or a salt of calcium, the upper 

 spectra will represent those due to the finer groupings brought 

 about by higher temperatures. We pass continuously, as in 

 the sun and the stars, from complexity to simplicity, if we 

 begin at the lower, and from simplicity to complexity if we 

 begin at the higher, stages of temperature. 



As it is most important to obtain a clear mental view of the 

 manner in which, on the principles of evolution, various bases 

 may be formed, it is as well to point out here that although it 

 does not seem unnatural that the bases should increase their com- 

 plexity by a process of continual addition of like units, or even by 

 continual multiplication of them, the factors being 2, 3, or some 

 higher number ; still that these need not necessarily, or even pro- 

 bably, be the only lines. Thus we may have increase of molecular 

 complexity by the addition of molecules of different origins, and 

 seeing that we must suppose these early forms to be produced in a 

 mass of incandescent vapour, probably in a state of the wildest 

 commotion, I should fancy that the greater number after the first 

 would be formed in such fashion. A -f A would give place to A + B, 

 and a variation of the process would consist in a still further com- 

 plexity being brought about by the addition of another molecule 

 of B, so that instead of (A. -f B] 2 merely, we should have A + B 2 . 



Now, two questions arise here which I think it is important 

 to discuss. Are we playing fast and loose, in such an hypo- 

 thesis as this, with the ordinary course of nature's operations, or 

 are we in harmony with her ? Again ; is it contrary to the view 

 expressed by the greatest minds which have studied chemical 

 phenomena? That the view is not inharmonious with the 

 theory of evolution which has been formulated, or other view 

 which we have gathered from other regions of thought and work, 

 is at once obvious; in fact, I think it derives its whole force 

 from the fact that along many lines it runs parallel with the 



