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XXXV. ihe Gyroscopic Theory of Atoms and Molecules*. 

 By Albert C. Crehore f. 



TN obtaining the equilibrium positions of two atoms as 

 J. they unite to form a molecule, it was shown in a former 

 paper % that the distance between the atoms is great compared 

 with the radius of the orbits of their electrons, probably- 

 more than a thousand times as great. The order of magni- 

 tude of the radii of the orbits of the electrons in the atoms 

 was there estimated as 10" 12 cm.§ This result follows from 

 the better known molecular dimensions and the calculated 

 ratio between molecular dimensions and the radii of the 

 orbits. Following this conception, certain modifications as 

 to the distribution of the electrons within the positive 

 electricity are suggested, not only to introduce the quanta 

 of Planck but also to account for both the X-ray spectra 

 recently published by Moseley and luminous spectra. 



The present tendency among atomic theorists is to favour 

 with Rutherford an atom with a central positive nucleus 

 having electrons circulating in orbits large compared with 

 the radius of the nucleus. One reason for favouring this 

 atom is that it explains the observed scattering of the alpha 

 particles in their passage through matter. Another reason 

 is that it accounts for the large mass of an atom, as compared 

 with that of an electron, by the small radius of the positive 

 electricity, the mass of the hydrogen atom being about 

 1900 times that of the electron. The theory involves the 



* Since this paper was communicated the work of calculating- the 

 forces between any two atoms of the nature described in the text has 

 been in progress. The integral equations have been obtained when the 

 axes of the atoms lie in one plane, either parallel to each other in the 

 same or in opposite directions, or perpendicular to each other. These 

 equations enable us to specify the directions of the axes of the atoms in 

 a cubic crystal such as rock-salt or potassium chloride, and to show that 

 the whole crystal is a very stable arrangement. The distances between 

 the atoms agree with those calculated by Prof. Bragg within the limits 

 of error. The experimental work on crystals seems to be a confirmation 

 of the theory advanced in this paper, because the same fundamental 

 values here given of the size of the positive electricity and the speed of 

 revolution of the electrons in the atom have enabled us to construct 

 theoretically a crystal such as rock-salt, and to obtain the same distances 

 as found experimentally. 



The derivation of the forces between two atoms and the proof that 

 these atoms may form a stable crystalline structure of dimensions 

 agreeing with the experimental determinations, forms the subject of a 

 future communication. 



f Communicated by the Author. 



% A. C. Crehore, Phil. Mag. July 1913, p. 25. 



§ Loc. cit. p. 56. 



