496 Scientific Intelligence. 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE 



I. Chemistry and Physics. 



1. Speculations hi Regard to Atomic Weight Numbers. — 

 Starting with the old assumption that the atomic weights are 

 obvious whole numbers and the old deduction that the elements 

 are multiples of the element hydrogen, H. Collins has made 

 some observations which appear to be of more interest than is 

 usual in the case of such speculations. He observes that the 

 "artiads" below 63 are generally odd numbers, while the "peris- 

 sads " are usually even. The antiquated terms just used refer to 

 odd and even valency, respectively. He states that nitrogen is 

 the single exception, but it seems to the reviewer that beryllium 

 and scandium are absolute exceptions, and that helium and argon, 

 having no known valency, are not strictly "perissads." It 

 appears further that this application is of little importance with 

 Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni, which show both odd and even 

 valencies. However, there are enough cases conforming with 

 this rule to make the observation an interesting one. Another 

 observation is that these atomic weights, below 63, based on oxy- 

 gen as 16, are either whole numbers or greater than whole num- 

 bers, with the exceptions of argon, iron and nickel. The author 

 makes the deduction that the increase in the atomic weights 

 above whole numbers is due to the condensation of a "protyle " 

 within each atom, but he does not explain why the oxygen atom 

 may not also possess a " protyle." He observes further that in 

 nine instances a difference of 4 in the list of " obvious whole 

 numbers " (below 63) corresponds to a difference of two valencies ; 

 for instance, 



Li Monad 7 ) . 



B Triad 11 f 



Mg Dvad 24 j 



Si Tetrad 2S [ 4 



He observes also that several changes of a single valency involve 

 changes in weight of 1 and 3 ; for example, 



] 1 \ Na Monad 23 [ 



12 j Mg Dyad 24 \ 



24 j Si Tetrad 28 ) 



27 f P Pentad 31 j" J 



He makes the deduction that the acidity or non-metallic nature of 

 an element is always due to a pair or pairs of electro-positive 

 forces, each pair emanating from a portion of the element, of 

 which the mass is 4, taking the mass of an atom of hydrogen as 

 unity. He believes that the constitution and structure of each 



Na 



Monad 



23 u 



27 ( 4 



Al 



Triad 



Al 



Triad 



27 \ A 



P 



Pentad 



31 \ 



B 



Triad 



C 



Tetrad 



Mg 



Dyad 



Al 



Triad 



