The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1889-03-06
From The Independent.
Nickel and Cobalt.

reached us last week by Atlantic cable
was dignifed with no display type. The
papers gave it most inconspicuous place
at the bottom of column o. miscellane-
Gus items. Knowing what is sent and
what is not sent by cable, We wonder that
it occurred to any one to send it at all,
and yet, if true, it is the most remarkable
discovery made in chemistry since Priest
ly discovered oxygen. 1t is thus re-
ported
DIR. Kruss, chemist of Munich ha.
succeeded in decompoeing cobalt and
nickel, both of which have hitherto been
supposed to be elementary substances"
To apprehend the meaning of this item,
which we sincerely hope is true, let it be
remembered that all matter is analysed
back into come sixty five distinct "ele-
ments, which have thus far resisted ali
attempts to reduce them still further.
They differ in character, some being
metallic and others non.metallic: but
they are all supposed to be simple atoms,
not transmutable into each other, each
final irresoluble solid unit OF these atoms,
hydrogen, metal gaseous at ordinary
temperatures, is the hghtest, while atoms
of other sorts weigh fourteen, sixteen, or
even to one or two hundred times as
much. The relative weight of the atoms
as compared with the weight of hydrogen
being one, nitrogen fourteen, oxygen sig
teen, mercury two hundred.
Now, number of reasons have com.
bined to make chemists suspect that the
so-called elements are not truly elemen-
tary. One OF these is the fact that the
| q 70 Ill
of that of hydrogen Why is it that the
atomic weight of hydrogen should be
factor in that of the other elements? Is
hydrogen really factor in their com
position ? But more important is the
fact that the elements group themselves
into classes having similar qualities Such
are potassium, rubidium and c@sium.
Such, also, are chlorine, bromine and
iodine. Now, in these classes of elements
there appears often regular increment
Of atomic weight. Add about 46 to the
atomic weight of potassium, and you get
that OF rubidium; add as much more, and
you get that of cesium. These CORES
pondencles are not within classes merely,
but run, IN measure through the entire
list of elements. These relations have
been carefully studied by Mendeleieff
Meyer and others; and where gaps in the
series have been observed they have not
hesitated to prophesy that future discov-
cries OF new elements would fill the gap.
And this has actually been done in sew
eral cases. But this regular increment
seems to indicate that, by the addition Of
some definite amount of something to one
element, 1T is changed into another of q
higher atomic weight. Some special facts
confirm this speculation. Thus, ammo
MUM is well known compound; but 1t
has all the qualities of a metal like DO
tassium and sodium, easily replaces them
IN composition, forming compounds of a
similar character TO those of these aka
line metals One decomposes easily, and
the other does not, but otherwise they
seem to be alike.
The infinitely delicate study of ele-
mt nts with the spectroscope has also sug-
gested that elements are not really simple
in their nature. Why should iron vapor
show through the prism vastly more
complicated spectrum than hydrogen if
1t Is really as simple as hydrogen in it's
constitution ? If iron is, in the bunsen
burner, only an aggregation of similar
spherical atoms, and sodium is another
aggregation of similar spherical atoms,
why should the spectrum of the one diff
fer from that of the other a? Mr. Crookes
and others have given much study to this
subject, and have made it quite probable
that chemical atoms are not elementary;
but they have been able to suggest no
method Of proving this experimentally
1t has been suggested that it is only in
extreme conditions of heat, like that on
the sun 8 surface, that atoms could be
compounded of simple atoms or dssoci
ated into simpler atoms. The discovery
by the spectroscope that there is in the
hottest part of the sun an element not
( known on the earth, simpler even in it's
| nature than hydrogen, has given further
p weight to this speculation.
We shall wait for confirmation by mail
before we fully trust this remarkable an
nouncemeut; but if it be true there is some
rea son why cobalt and nickel may be a
weak point In the line where successful
decomposition might be hoped for. The
atomic weights of these two elements are
the same, each being $50. Still other
indications would point to other equally
weak points in the line, and it may be a
mere accident that the first break has
been made here, if such is really the
fact The announcement is 80 remark
able, so revolutionary, 80 fundamental
that we hesitate to give it full credence
while fully understanding that it is to-