THE EVOLUTION OF MATTER 207 



We know that the earth was once a molten inorganic 

 mass ; that it was derived from the evolving sun ; and 

 that the sun probably took shape through the condensation 

 of some enormous diffuse " nebula " ; and we are led to 

 wonder at what stage of the evolution of the solar system 

 the elements evolved. Had all the known elements evolved 

 before this globe took shape, or before the crust of the 

 earth began to form ? We do not know, but it seems clear 

 that some elements had already evolved when the earth 

 was still molteD ; for the spectroscope reveals that the 

 sun, of which the earth is a fragment, has, although it is 

 still molten or incandescent, certain known elements in its 

 substance ; for example, Hydrogen, Iron, and Sodium. It 

 may well be that further cooling, condensation, or compres- 

 sion have to take place before the sun can evolve the elements 

 of high atomic weight. And perhaps towards the centre 

 of the comparatively cold earth the evolution of elements 

 of higher atomic weight than any known to us is at present 

 going on, or is to take place, as the result of increasing 

 contraction or condensation. 



On the whole it is reasonable to suppose that a pre- 

 elemental stage of evolution once obtained, and that the 

 known elements evolved through the Intensification of 

 Continuity ; and we get a certain measure of support for 

 this presumption from what is known as the Periodic Law, 

 or the Law of Octaves (Fig. 67). 



This law is to the effect that if the elements be arranged 

 in the ascending order of their atomic weights, any given 

 element in the series is found to resemble the eighth, six- 

 teenth, twenty-fourth, etc., succeeding it, or preceding it ; 

 the resemblance being that of general properties, and also 

 in the matter of highest oxides and hydrides. The 

 following table, taken from Bloxham's "Chemistry," shows 

 this. 



One cannot but feel that this table is a species of key 

 to the evolution of the elements, if we could but use it 

 aright. But in spite of our inability to do so, we can see 

 in it indications of past elemental evolution through some 

 form of Continuity intensification. If we take increasing 

 atomic weight to reflect higher and higher Continuity, the 

 heaviest elements would be those last evolved, and as the 



