INTEODUCTIOI^. 35 



Some preliminary propositions and definitions may be 

 serviceable to the reader. 



Science deals •with, matter and force. 



Matter is that which has weight and bulk. 



Force is the cause of changes in matter — it is appre- 

 ciable only by its effects upon matter. 



Force resides in and is inseparable from, matter. 



Force manifests itself iu motion. 



All matter is perpetually animated by force — is there- 

 fore never at rest. What we call rest in matter is simply 

 motion too fine for our perceptions. 



The different kinds of matter known to science have 

 been resolved into not more than 62 elements or simple 

 substances. 



Elements, or ultimate elements, are forms of matter 

 which have thus far resisted all attempts at their simplifi- 

 cation. 



In ordinary life we commonly encounter but 12 elements 

 in their elementary state, viz. : 



Oxygen, Mercury, 



Nitrogen, Copper, 



Sulphur, Lead, 



Carbon, Tin, 



Iron, Silver, 



Zinc, Gold. 



The numberless other substances with which we are 

 familiar, are mostly compounds of the above, or of 12 

 other elements, viz. : 



Hydrogen, Calcium, 



Phosphorus, Magnesium, 



Chlorine, Aluminum, 



Silicon, Manganese, 



Potassium, Chromium, 



Sodium, Nickel, 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



