294 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



If »»2 = - 3, we find 



r" = 1-2126, o)"2 = 1-2814, 



a)"2r" = 1-5576. 

 If ^2 = - 3^, we find 



r" = 1, o)"^ = 1-6530, 



a)"2/' = 1-6530. 



If ^2 = - 4, we find 



/' = 0-81647, w"- = 2-2500, 



o)"V"^= 1-8371. 



Any one of these solutions will account for the formation of water, 

 and the exclusion of hydroxyl (HO). 



Rydroxyl. — If we discuss the properties of hydroxyl (HO), after 

 the manner of those of hydrofluoric or hydrochloric acid, it is easy 

 to see, from the preceding section, that if ^ = 16, we have mj = - 7 

 as the most probahle solution. We thus find 

 /? = 16, m^= - 7, 



/ = 1-0829, w'2 = 1-0645, 



to'V = 1-1528. 



Calculating the value of the attraction of oxygen upon one atom 

 of hydrogen, in hydroxyl, we find 



/^ = ^?±ijV3^/2 ^ 1-5263. 



If we choose for water the second of the three solutions just 



given 



r" = 1, <o"2 = 1-6530, 



WG find the attraction of one atom of oxygen upon one atom of 



hvdrogen, in water, 



fxJ'fi = <o"2-l = 0-6530, 



being less than half the attraction in HO. 



Sulphuretted Hydrogen (HSH). — If we suppose, as in the case of 

 oxygen, r" = 1, we find 



^ = 32, 



2 -yS 

 m^' = — ^ = - 7 J, 



a)"2 = 1-2844. 



