Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-08-06
MATTER.
or Amnity and RepuI.Ion.

No q.
Tho properties of matter known as affinity
and repulsion afford one Of the most interest
ing and instructive studies in natural science.
Upon them rests the science of chemistry
now and for several years past demanding the
attention of mankind more than ever before,
not alone for its scientific interest, but also
for its value in the arts, and especially in ag-
riculture. In this industry is knowledge of
chemistry Of great value, for it reveals TO the
cultvator of the soil its composition, and the
composition Of the plants to be grown there
on hence il gives him useful hints in the
preparation of his land for any special crop.
The analyses Of soils and Of plants must re-
main in the hands of the practical chemist,
principally yet knowledge obtained from
some work upon organic chemistry
ston's, for instance-will inspire the tiller of
the soil with zeal and love for his vocation, as
new truths are made known and laws that di-
rect and control the changes and combinations
of matter among whose diversified forms he
lives, moves and labors.
The law of affinity and repulson is as broad
as the domain of matter itself. Every sub
btbhOo lIODuDl1 ultS hu Nluulll lOE hOlhb OlubI
substance, and under favorable conditions
they will unite and form compound differ
ing from either. Every substance also has a
repulsion for many other substances, and un-
der no conditions yet discovered can they be
made to combine their antagonism is un-
conquerable. Many substances will blend,
having neither affinity nor repulsion for each
other buL in aunh naqac mn nharnioal chopoa
is effected. Slick and an alkali will combine
and form glass under the condition of heat
alcohol and water will blend but oil and wa.
ter will combine only by the introduction of
third substance having an affinity for both
The distinction between affinity and cohe
sive attraction it is important always TO OBJ
serve. The former operates between differ
ent elementary and different compound bodies,
converting them into new substance differ
ing from either. The latter holds together
atoms merely by attractive force. II permis-
sible to use term to describe lifeless matter
used to describe the affinity and repulsion of
sentient beings, it might be said that certain
atoms have desire for certain other atoms,
and when brought into an nsensible distance
they unite and form a new substance, or-to
use another word-a copartnership. Other
atoms have n dislike for each other, as do
many organic beings hence the law OF affin-
ity and repulsion has been called the likes
and dislikes' of matter
Ancient philosophers believed there were
but four elements in nature, viz, fire, air,
earth and water. The elements Of the alche-
mists were sulphur, mercury and salt. 1t is
not strange that our ancestors should have
formed this quadruple idea of matter. These
substances were constantly before them
they embrace all matter, except organic be-
ings, which would naturally be assigned to
the earth, and are SO dissimilar in appearance
and properties as to lead them, in the absence
of the instruments and research OF our time
into that error. The last three OF their sup
posed elements long ago yielded to the chem
lists wand the first is the result Of chemical
union. SiIty-three elementary substances are
known to exist, and in the progress of chemi
cal knowledge some of these may yet bo
proved to be compounds
Connected with the law under considera-
ton is that well known principle of punctili-
ousness-using again a term implying sensi
bility-callod the law Of definite proportions;
which means that certain substances will COM
bine only in limited quantities, 1t is an in
teresting fact, and as difficult to explain as
the problem in the preceding article, that
those elements which come under the law,
when they combine in more than one proper
tion, are always multiples of the first by
whole number, fraction of proportion al
ways boing rejected. Taking oxygen as it ex-
lists in water g OK. hy.) as unit, the fol-
lowing table will show the principle on which
the law rests in the union of nitrogen and