Evolution and Devolution of the Elements. 39 
set of eight is extraordinarily strong in this element. In other 
words, it is exceptionally " electro-negative/' 
If we take the next element chlorine, we find the same 
properties, but to a less degree, and following through bromine 
to iodine, this desire to enter into combination decreases. 
This fall in electro-negative behaviour may be considered as 
being due to the fact that as the evolution progresses a more 
and more dense system is formed : that is to say, more and 
more energy escapes. 
Now Professor Abegg* has published a most important 
Table of the^ Values of the Electro-potentials of the Elements, 
and from this we can see at once that the tendency of the 
elements to take up electrons always falls as the direct process 
of evolution progresses, that is to say, the electro-positivity rises 
precisely aswe should expect, if our theory is to hold good. 
We give a diagram showing Abegg's values, which is modified 
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slightly so as to show more conveniently the relations between 
the families in our Periodic Table. It can at once be seen that 
the values of the potentials as given by Abegg do not fit in 
with the Periodic Table as usually adopted at the present time. 
They do, however, agree much better with the groupings of the 
* Zeit. Anorg. Chem. ]904, xxxix. p. 330. 
