QQL 

 ORDER OF COMBINATION. 101 



cohesion, or their opposite electricities, the surfaces in con- 

 tact are extended to the utmost limit from the primary point 

 of junction, which then becomes the RADIUS of the newly 

 formed sphere, of which the two original molecules are but the 

 hemispheres. 



When formed of two atoms of one body, or element, and one 

 atom of another, the positive pole of the single atom attracts the 

 negative poles of the two others, and a sphere is again formed 

 of which the three molecules occupy compartments propor- 

 tional to their respective magnitude, and governed by their 

 respective densities which determine the position of the posi- 

 tive pole of the compound atom, and those of the molecules 

 which become lateral and superficial. 



In case they are equal in area, the negative pole of the single 

 atom rests at its usual points, but the positive pole of the new 

 compound sphere is to be found on the surface immediately 

 opposite, and these two exercise power as the active poles of 

 the compound atom ; the two positive poles of the two atoms 

 of one of the elements becoming then inert (as far as direct 

 combination occurs), but may act laterally in bodies where 

 great cohesive power is exercised. 



An opposite order of combination naturally occurs, where 

 the single atom may be united to the two other atoms by the 

 opposite poles to those already described in binary and ternary, 

 and also in quaternary compounds. 



Whether matter is formed of one, two, or three atoms of one 

 element, with one of another, or of two others, or in conjunc- 

 tion with other compound constituents, the same order of 

 union is observed at the centre of the compound atoms ; that 

 is, by the opposite poles of the molecules held in combination, 

 one governing the rest by its powers of attraction, to which 

 the others are separately and collectively subservient for the 

 time. 



The more intense the state of fixity (occasioned by shielding 



