( 774 ) 
In conclusion I want to point out that this theory gives the first 
plausible explanation of the metastability of the metals. 
In this it is viz. noteworthy that the cooling of the solidified^ 
masses proceeds in such a way that the inner solid equilibrium can 
certainly not follow the temperature, and this is one of the reasons! 
why the metals, as we generally have them, are nearly always in! 
metastable state. We must further bear in mind that if we have ji 
metal which is in inner equilibrium, and it is subjected to some! 
mechanical operation, a necessary consequence of this will be that 
the metal becomes metastable, because in stable state a change of t 
pressure is generally attended with a shifting of the inner equilibrium*! 
which, however, in consequence of the inner resistance does not 
appear at all, or on account of the slight velocity of Iransformat ioni 
will take place only after a very long time. 
The above mentioned circumstances account at the same time for 
the fact that it hardly ever occurs that two pieces of the same metal| 
are perfectly identical, for this could only occur when the inner 
state, stable or metastable, was perfectly the same. 
Just as so many others the metastable states discussed here can 
be changed into the stable state by different influences, as increase j 
of temperature, vibration, contact with the stable state etc., in 
which the transformation which takes place, manifests itself in a 
recrystallisation!) 
Amsterdam, March 1910. Anorg. Chem. Lab. of the University .| 
ERRATA. 
In the Proceedings of the Meetings of Jan. and Febr. 1910. 1 
p. 652 line 9 and p. 677 line 5 from the bottom, p. 654 line 17 
from the top: for 11 read 659. 
p. 669, 672, 674 for 20.2 read 20.3. 
p. 670 etc. for carrier read holder. 
line 9 and 19 from the top: for modulus read constant. : ]| 
line 5 from the bottom: for corresponding read in agree¬ 
ment with. 
p. 672 line 16 from the bottom: for dilation read dilatation, 
p. 673 for 14.3 read 14.0. 
*) It is to be expected that this metastability will not be met with only for 
metals and metal-alloys, but also for other substances, which have been obtained 
by rapid cooling and solidification of melted masses. 
(April 28, 1910). 
