422 Wells — Atoms in Inorganic Triple Salts. 



Summary. 



The existence has been advocated of an inorganic 

 chromophore grouping consisting, usually, of atoms of 

 the same metal in different states of valency in a molecule 

 of a triple salt. 



An explanation of the behavior of this chromophore 

 has been made by advancing the theory that there is a 

 constant exchange of negative electrons between the 

 atoms of different valency, and that this activity of elec- 

 trons affects the passage of light, producing colors or 

 opacity. 



An attempt has been made to extend this theory to an 

 explanation of colors of substances in general by assum- 

 ing commonly occurring spontaneous exchanges of elec- 

 trons, which affect the passage of light. 



The author takes pleasure in expressing his thanks to 

 his colleague, Professor John Zeleny, who has kindly read 

 this article in its original form and has made some valu- 

 able suggestions, from a physicist's point of view, which 

 have led to a considerable modification in the presentation 

 of the theoretical part of it. 



New Haven, Conn., March, 1922. 



