364 G. Hinrichs on Spectral Lines. 
groups of lines. Thus iron group I numbers 18 lines ranging 
through nearly 100 mm. of Kirchhoff’s scale. ° be- 
fore, not all lines are actually observed—but that may be due 
to the coéxistence of the several systems caused by the several 
dimensions of the atoms, whereby also a variation in the inten- 
sity of the lines would be produced. 
$29. Influence of the dimension of the atoms.—The greater d, 
the closer must be the dark lines. If this theoretical result be 
applied to the elements, considering their dimension as d, it 
would follow, if we adopt the hypothesis of one element, there- 
by measuring volume by the weight of the atom, that the lines | 
must be generally the closer the greater the atomic weight of the ele- 
ments, 
In the following table A is the atomic weight taken from 
Will’s Jahresbericht for 1863 as copied in the Smithsonian Re- 
port for 1864; d is the interval as found in the preceding para- 
8: 
Metalloids. A d Metals. A d 
Hydrogen, 1 169°0||Magnesium, 12 5°23 
Chlorine 35°5 47-0 alcium, 20 sete 
d id . real , 
Bromine, 80°0 25-0 for veral } Be: 6°5 
Iodine 127°0 0 groups, 
i ==3°29 
Nitrogen, 140 65°0 Iron, 28 head 
pes 
Oxygen, 8-0 1372 meron d,= °709 
shins Mercury, 100 25°0 
We notice first the great intervals of the metalloids as com- 
ared to those of the metals; also in general a greater interval 
or smaller atomic weight. This is the more conclusive for simi- 
elements, as exemplified in the chlorine group. : 
€ can not expect a more close agreement, for the dimensions 
and not the volume, proportional to the atomic weight, decide 
the distribution of the dark lines. 
ut the dimensions can only be found by for a. moment _ac- 
cepting our hypothesis of the construction of the elements. We 
hope that the preceding will induce the reader to approach this 
question, ; 
30. Dimensions of the atoms.—We suppose all elementary 
atoms to be built up of the atoms of one single matter, the urstoff. 
the atomic weight of hydrogen referred to this prime-element 
be H—we have reason to believe that H=4. : 
Whatever be the form of these atoms, the laws of mechanics 
force them to arrange themselves regularly—and the most stable 
form will be the prism. If quite rectangular, and a, 6, ¢ be the 
number of primary atoms, in the three directions, we shall have 
(leaving out the factor H) : 
we 0:6.6. 
