Co-ordination of Subjects 3d 



As soon as we realize that the black soot which comes from a 

 smoking-chimney and the purest of white diamonds are both composed 

 of exactly the same chemical atoms — that is, are both pure carbon — we 

 find we are not satisfied until some explanation of this remarkable differ- 

 ence can be given. 



At this point we must pass to the study of physics, for it is physics 

 that deals with the laws of movement and of energy. In reality, it is 

 from the physicist, rather than from the chemist, that we obtain an 

 explanation as to why the different chemical formulae are what they are. 

 The physicist has found that atoms can be broken up into very tiny 

 particles, each fragment having the power of attracting or repelling 

 other fragments. Such tiny particles are called electrons. 



Knowing this we can evolve a great underlying principle that can 

 be applied in -as many different ways as was the principle of Archimedes, 

 referred .tt) in a former chapter. 



In fact, the theory of electrons tells us not only why two elements 

 chemically alike have a totally different appearance, but it also gives 

 us an explanation as to why there are different chemical elements to 

 begin with. 



It has been found that if pure carbon is subjected to tremendous 

 heat in electric furnaces, followed by the application of thousands of 

 pounds of pressure, this carbon will become a diamond. 



The scientific man, learning that this is true, immediately attempts 

 to bring about a wider application of his knowledge for the purpose of 

 evolving still other principles. Such an one comes to the conclusion, 

 then, that it is quite likely that all matter is composed of electrons, and 

 that the different forms that matter assumes are due only to varying 

 degrees of heat and pressure. 



This means that everything physical — everything that occupies 

 space — be it wood, iron, coal, radium, hydrogen, oxygen, or what not — 

 is quite probably composed of the same ultimate material or substance, 

 but in each case such ultimate substance has been exposed to a different 

 quantity of heat and pressure. 



Now, the object of science is to control nature and to prophesy what 

 will occur when certain acts are performed. 



It is well to note at this point that science can never explain the 

 fundamental why of anything. It cannot tell why metal becomes soft 

 when heated, while an egg becomes hard. What science can do, and 

 aims to do, is to find how things can be changed from what they are by 

 performing a combination of certain definite acts. 



Just as the explanation of how chemical elements come to be what 

 they are was found by physicists and not by chemists, thus showing the 

 inter-relationship of the two sciences, so man, being a complete entity 

 made up of both the physical and the mental, must be considered in his 

 double capacity if we are to study him scientifically. 



Physics and chemistry form man's most important studies on the 



