yO SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 65 



magnetic also, unless, as is possible, it is easier, in the presence of a 

 group of eight, for two magnetons to form a group of no moment than 

 for a larger number (see arguments at the end of §12). A diatomic 



molecule very similar in constitution to N 2 and 2 is NO ((Oy^vH" 



this is strongly paramagnetic (Q) ; and, contrary to the usual 

 impression, the paramagnetism must lie in the unsaturated N atom 

 rather than in the O atom, according to the present view. Liquid 



and N 2 3 (@=N-{o)-N=(o)J are 



diamagnetic (P), but liquid Oxygen retains its paramagnetism 

 almost unaltered (K. Onnes). N 2 0, whose constitution is possibly 



N_^ <N V ^ 



HI 1 O ) , or || TO » is according to Quincke slightly paramagnetic. 



N X - y <N X - y 



Possibly N 2 3 has a more condensed structure than has just been 



(°^ N v^ . . . ,. 



written, e. g., ^z^ || LO), which would accord better with its dia- 



(O^N^ 



magnetism. From all this, we may see the possibility of diatomic 

 sulphur vapor being paramagnetic, and we would expect NO, to be 

 less diamagnetic than N 2 4 or even paramagnetic : these points have 

 not as yet been investigated experimentally. 



Turning to the long periods, we find that the assumption made on 

 chemical grounds about the absence of a tendency to form the group 

 of eight is justified in the magnetic properties of the transition 

 metals. Unlike P (2y + 5), S (2y + 6), CI (27 + 7), A (37), which 

 are all diamagnetic, V (3y + 5), Cr (3y + 6), Mn (3y + 7), (Fe Co Ni) 

 (3y + 8) are all paramagnetic, quite apart from ferromagnetism. 

 The same is true of the corresponding series in the second and third 



long periods: Nb, Mo, , (RuRhPd); and Ta, W, , 



(Os IrPt). The rare-earth elements, which precede Tantalum, and 

 whose structures have been compared with those of the elements 

 just mentioned (§13), are also strongly paramagnetic, some of their 

 salts being: even more so than Iron salts. 





