October 28, 1922] 



NA TURE 



587 



The Hydrogen Molecule. 1 



T N Prof. Crehore's papers on the hydrogen molecule, 

 * Saha's theory of electromagnetic forces is made 

 use of, which is founded on the Einstein relativity 

 theory. A certain type of atom is described for 

 hydrogen, consisting of a revolving nucleus of positive 

 electricity with two revolving negative electrons, one 

 on either side of the nucleus, and having a common 

 axis of revolution with it ; and it is shown that the 

 resultant of the electrostatic and electrodynamic 

 forces acting at points the distance of which from the 



In the hydrogen atom, when a disturbance takes 

 place, the electrons will move a certain distance along 

 the common axis about which they and the positive 

 ellipsoid are rotating, away from the latter ; and will 

 then return to their original position. Crehore is of 

 opinion that it will be possible, in this way, to account 

 for the emission of various kinds of monochromatic 

 light from the atom, and that the existence of defi- 

 nite quanta of luminous energy may be explained. 

 He contemplates the adaptation of the whole of the 



Fig. 1. — H, hydrogen atom ; two coaxial, ellipsoidal electrons, on either side of positive 

 1.008. He, helium atom, four coaxial electrons with positive nucleus between them. Li i, disc, 

 5 particles with three binding electrons representing Li 7, N = 3- Gl r, discarded by Crehore. 

 observed isotopes. F^ and B 2 , isotopes of boron Hjo and B11. C, carbon with six binding electrc 

 number of the element, N — 6. O, oxygen, N=8, eight binding electrons. F, fluorine 



the helit 

 eleven binding ele 



at the 



th charge +2 

 rded by Crehore. 

 Gl 2 and 3 do m 

 is corresponding t< 

 binding electr 



Li 2, three 

 t represent 



: is supposed to be equivalent to an addition of two binding electrons. Na, sodium, N - 1 



atom is great, compared with the distances between 

 the atoms in a crystal, varies inversely as the square 

 of the distance. Gravitational force is thus shown 

 to result from the combination of electrostatic and 

 electrodynamic forces, when relativity is taken into 

 account. The spinning of the positive nucleus, and 

 of the electrons, gives them an ellipsoidal form, the 

 ratio between the major and minor diameters being 

 in each case 3-058. For the negative electron the 

 major diameter is 6-514 x io" 13 cm. and the minor is 

 2-130 x io" 13 cm. The greater part of the mass of 

 the atom resides in the positive nucleus ; and, as 

 it is assumed to be wholly of electromagnetic origin, 

 this nucleus is extremely minute in comparison with 

 the negative electron, as in the commonly accepted 

 theory of atomic structure, the solar system theory. 



1 Prof. A. C. Crehore, Phil. Mag., Oct. 1921, May 1922, June 1922. 

 NO. 2765, VOL. I IO] 



mathematics of Planck and of Bohr to his special 

 form of atom. 



The action of one hydrogen atom upon another, at 

 a distance from it, is investigated, with the restriction 

 that the axes of rotation are parallel to one another. 

 Mathematical evidence is obtained of the possibility 

 of certain definite positions of equilibrium for the 

 second atom, in the field of the first, so that the two 

 are bound together to form a molecule. Their 

 distance apart appears to be of the order of io -8 cm., 

 or enormously large, when compared with the size of 

 the atoms. The distance is of the same order as the 

 distances between the atoms of crystals ; and it is to 

 be supposed that similar relations to those between two 

 hydrogen atoms, in a hydrogen molecule, exist between 

 the atoms of sodium and chlorine, in sodium chloride ; 

 and that a number of such atoms are linked up, in 



