CONTENTS. 



Chapter III. — The Agents of Metamoephism 58 



General statement 58 



Part I. Gaseous solutions 59 



Section 1. Chemical and physical principles controlling the action of gases 60 



Gases present 60 



The pressure - 61 



The temperature - -. 61 



Section 2. Geological work of gases 62 



Part II. Aqueous solutions and solids . . 63 



General considerations 63 



Section 1. Chemical and physical principles controlling the action of ground water.. 65 



Principles of solutions applicable to ground water 65 



Solution of gases in ground waters 68 



Gases present 68 



The pressure - - 70 



The temperature - - 72 



Solids in solution 72 



Solution of solids in ground water 72 



Compounds present 76 



Relations of solution and pressure 77 



Relations of solution and temperature 79 



Speed of solution 79 



Quantity of material which may be held in solution. 79 



Relations of solution to absorption and liberation of heat 81 



Diffusion 82 



Principles of chemical reactions applicable to ground waters 84 



General statement 84 



Definitions 84 



Dissociation 84 



Hydrolysis 86 



Reactions - 87 



Equilibrium 90 



Homogeneous and heterogeneous systems ■ 90 



Nature and speed of reactions 91 



The compounds 91 



Strength of the solutions 94 



Mechanical action 95 



Speed of chemical action 95 



Direct deformation effect 95 



Strain without rupture 95 



Strain with rupture 98 



Readjustment of particles 98 



Indirect heat effect 99 



Nature of the chemical reactions 100 



