ORIGIN OF ELEMENTARY SUBSTANCES. 127 



tual influence on each other_, through the annular space 

 between them^ would induce opposite electrical conditions 

 in their external and internal regions^ all the inner and 

 denser regions of the zones being in a negative^ and the 

 outer and rarer regions in a positive electrical condition. 

 Each zone would then be in a condition to form an electro- 

 positive and an electro-negative element^ which^ on a 

 subsequent condensation, would separate and form two 

 zones of elements having dissimilar properties alternating 

 with the other members of the same series. 



Just as silver and sodium are the connecting links 

 between Hg and Cu and the alkaline metals Li, K, Rb, 

 and Cs, so do cadmium and magnesium connect lead and 

 zinc with the alkaline-earth metals glucinum, calcium, stron- 

 tium, and barium, which I have classified as forms of Hm. 



The classification of glucinum with the alkaline-earth 

 metals has only recently been made ; but chemists are not 

 yet agreed upon the atomic weight of this element, as it 

 has been fixed at Gl= 7(Awdejew) and G\=g'^ (Reynolds). 

 It may, however, be suspected from the anomalously high 

 specific gravity assigned to glucinum (2-10) as compared 

 with that of magnesium (sp. g. 174);, and with their homo- 

 logues of position Li (sp. g. 0*59), and Na (sp. g. o'gy), 

 that this element has not yet been isolated in a state of 

 purity"^. By assigning to glucinum the atomic weight 

 Gl=8, it enters as a multiple into all the members of the 

 series Han, and may be regarded as the product of the 

 first, second, or third powers of H2. 



* Since this paper was written, MM. Nilson and Patterson have com- 

 municated to the French Academy the results of their researches on the 

 physical properties of glucinum, and have found for the metal a density 

 equal to 1-64, which, although still too high, the theoretical density being 

 about I '3, is less tiiau that of magnesium, and, consequently, stands in the 

 same order of density as lithium and Bod\uin.— Com2)tes Ecndus, April ist, 

 1877, p. 825. 



