80 C.S8. Peirce on Chemical Theory of Interpenetration. 
9. It is impossible for the atomic theory to explain why the 
monoatomic radicles combine together without condensation in 
the gaseous form; while the diatomic radicles lose their own 
volume, the triatomic one more than their own volume, &c., in 
combining with the monoatomic. Why in acetic ether, for ex- 
é , 
ample, ~ og? 71 ¢ © the dibasic radicles occupy no space at all. 
ingly, when one body acts on another through a difference of - 
quality, the latter will also act on the former and there will be a 
tendency to produce homogeneity of quality throughout the two. 
This homogeneity is actually established, or it is not. If it is 
not, the amount of force which holds back the two forces from 
their natural action must be just as strong as the forces them- 
selves. It is clear, therefore, that when the force of the acting 
body equals that of the body acted upon, all the force will be 
exhausted in preventing the homogeneity. Probably, however, 
it might be proved that the, homogeneity is always established ; 
and if it is, it cannot be established through both motions ex- 
isting at the same time without interference. For, if they had 
not interfered, they could not have acted upon one another. 
They must, therefore, destroy each other (producing a new mo 
tion) and when they are equal the peculiarities by which they 
acted will be neutralized and’there will be no further action. 
Now the same kind of matter under the same dynamical condi- 
tions possesses always the same amount of force proportionally 
to its mass; hence when one kind of matter acts on another 
through being of a different kind, it can only act ona definite 
amount of that matter, the dynamical circumstances remaining 
€ same. 
2. Let us call the reciprocal of the Atomic Weight the Chem- 
ical Intensity. This represents the force which causes bodies to 
combine. it remains the same under all dynamical circumstan 
