1882.] Thoughts on Chemical Affinity, 125 
be in even numbers. But there is no explanation as to how 
they satisfy each other. 
This mystery ceases to be one under our magnetic hypo- 
thesis. The free bonds are simply free magnetic poles, and 
they may be satisfied by magnetic reversal and astatic union 
in any two of the polar molecules. If, for instance, the five 
bonds of an acting molecule consist each of a magnetic 
unit, then one, two, three, four, or the whole of these, may 
attract monad atoms. But if four bonds be thus employed, 
the fifth cannot become masked ; it can only satisfy its at- 
tractions outwardly. If three only be employed, the remain- 
ing two may satisfy each other’s attractions. InduCtive 
action between them may cause a reversal of poles in one or 
the other, and they thus become astatically combined. The 
case is similar to that which is known to occur when a 
number of magnetic needles are bound together to form a 
compound magnet. The poles of some of them become re- 
versed by induction. Every one so reversed must mask the 
magnetism of one not reversed. Thus the bonds of attrac- 
tion of the compound magnet are reduced by twos with 
every reversal. If the magnetism of half the needles were 
reversed the compound magnet would become inert. Each 
of its poles would have an equal north and south polar energy. 
But if, in any such case, a vigorous magnetic energy be 
brought to bear upon the compound from without, it is not 
impossible that it might overpower this local influence, and 
reproduce the original arrangement of the poles. Thus, in 
the molecule of five bonds, the two masked ones might 
assume their former conditions, and again display outward 
attraction. 
The graphic formulae now given in works on chemistry 
plainly show the application of this magnetic hypothesis to 
chemical compounds. If, in a complex organic compound, 
we consider each C, O, H, N, &c., of its formula, as written 
out graphically, to be a magnet, with a definite attractive 
vigour of one, two, three, or more units, and that part of 
these bonds are attached by attraction to equal bonds of 
other elements, while part satisfy themselves by astatic 
combination, the formula seems to assume a new phase, and 
much of the mystery which has enveloped it to yield to the 
test of this new way of regarding it. 
Of course the hypothesis, as so far outlined, does not ex- 
plain the mysteries of elective affinity. We might reason- 
ably assume that combinations of magnets could be, in no 
sense, elective in their attractions, and that every two 
molecules, of whatever character, possessed of free magnetic 
