264 Mr. J. J. Thomson on the 



M = the total number of A atoms, whether free, in 



molecules, in triplets, or in molecules of A 3 B. 

 N = the total number of B atoms. 

 ti = the time the atoms in the A molecule stay 



together. 

 t 2 = the time the atoms in the A triplets stay together. 

 t 3 = the time the atoms in the B molecule stay 



together. 

 t A = the time the triplet A 3 stays with the atom of 



B in the molecule of AJ3. 



m 

 n 



= the time an atom of A is free from one other 

 atom of A. 



= the time an atom of A is free from a molecule 

 of A. 



^ = the time a triplet of A is free from an atom of B. 



= the time one atom of B is free from another 

 atom of the same. 



Then if we suppose that when the molecule of A 3 B is 

 decomposed it splits up into the triplet A 3 and the atom B, 

 and that when a triplet of A is decomposed it splits up into an 

 atom and a molecule of A, we get the following equations: — 



dm 



2n 



P 



2m 2 



mn " 



It 



~h 



+ H 



Tl " 



" T"2 



dn 



m 2 



P 



n 



mn 



~di 



">! 



+ Jf 



~h 



" T 2 



dp 

 ~di 



mn 



~ T 2 



S 



p 



"T 3 



dq 

 ~dt' 



2r 



~ *3 



s 



2q 2 



_pq 

 T3 



dr 



_?!_ 



r 







dt "' 



T 4 



~~h 







ds 



=PR 



s 







dt '' 



T 3 



~h 





J 



m + 27i + 3p + 3s-. 



=M, 







q + 2<> 



'+ s 



=N. 



(29) 



