Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-07


boiling undiscovered members OF the SERIES
and even rocks and sand might have ex-
listed. II any OF them we're solid at ordinary
temperatures This world would have had
clouds. winds, rain. tides and waves, but
no life; for life exists only through chem
ical energy, which reproduees heat alb
sorbed from the sun. Life merely guides
the successive chemical reactions which
build UP its transcendently mysterious pro-
cess; without the chemism all would be
death.
Old Systems Discarded.
Leaving the realm OF imaginat ton. one
hnds facts enough to form the basis OF
more legitimate speculation. For instance,
there is no place for these newcomers in
the OLD system OF the elements" in which
the seventy or more older elements are ar
ranged in the order OF the relative weights
OF the so-called atoms, their properties re-
curing at regular intervals. Perhaps this
classification might be reconstructed in
such way as to admit the newcomers, IL
we could be certain Of their atomic weights;
but, unfortunately, a very essential part of
the determination OF an atomic weight is
the analysis by weight OF one or more OF
the compounds OF the element In question,
and the newly found gases combine with
nothing. While 1t is thus impossible to de-
termine the atomic weight of argon by any
chemical process, nothing is easier than to
discover the weight OF its molecule Ac-
cording to the very definition Of the idea,
each molecule. when in the state of a gas
at any fixed temperature and pressure,
occupies exactly the same volume as
every other molecule. Of any aeri-
torm substance whatsoever. One may
evidently then obtain the molecular
weight OF gas by comparing the weight
OF given volume Of any gas with the weight
or the same volume of a gas whose MOLE
cular weight is known Since argon is not
quite third again as heavy as oxygen. and
We are accustomed to call the molecular
weight OF oxygen 80, 1t is obvious that the
molecular weight of argon must be about 40
In the same way the molecular weight of
hellum Is about 4. The molecular weights
OF the newer elements are still too uncertain
10 De worth stating, the uncertainty being
only due TO the fact that none have yet been
optalned IN pure state. Now a molecule
may contain one or more atoms for exam
pie, the molecule of oxygen gas is said to
contain two similar atoms, while that of
phosphorous vapor is said to contain four
The reasons for these assumptions are very
definite, but are too complex to admit Of ex-
planation here. Gases having more than one
atom to the molecule always seem to use
up portion OF any energy which NAV he
expended upon them in adjusting relations
inside OF the molecule, thus leaving less
energy to Influence the molecule as whole
because OF this, 1t Is possible from the rate
OF transmission of any form OF energy (for
Instance sound) through a gas, to form
a nc to tba
molecule. Judged by this criterion, which ia
more satisfactory to physicists than to chem
lists, each Of the new gases seems TO contain
only one atom in its molecule. II this 10
the case, 1t becomes evident that the atoms
themselves are wholly devoid of affinity: the
inertness of the gases cannot be due to any
attraction OF the particles for one another
Adopting the numbers four and forty for
the atomic as well as the molecular weights
OF neilum and argou, we are still unable I,
nnd place for them in the periodic system
OF the elements. Some one has suggested
tnat these inactive substances would natu-
rally form the connecting links between the
powerful electro negative and electro posi-
tive elements which follow one another
In successive portions of the table: but
unfortunately their atomic weight, do
not put them in this position
Time will, perhaps, solve the dim
Guilty; for the present one cannot bur be
impressed with the inadequacy OF a widely
accepted generalization to cope with the new
situation.
ArgOn's Spectrn.
One Of the most certain of the criteria NJ
the newness Of argon and its Comrades Is
the singularity of their spectra Probably all
gases are capable of yielding at least two
spectra apiece, one being produced by the
vibrations Of light caused by intense heat
las In the suns atmosphere or In the in
tense incandescence of the electric spark)
and another being produced by the passage
OF small quantity Of galvanic electricity
at very much lower temperature. Each
OF the spectra Of each Of the argon group
Is utterly different from any spectrum pre-
Vlously known on the earth. 1t is interest
ING 10 know that many OF the lines in the
hot spectrum of helium had been observed
long ago In the spectra OF many stars, es.
pecially In some belonging to the constella-
tion OF Orion; and the yellow line Of helium
has been known in the sun for years. It
Is worthy OF note, Also that the hot spectra
Of argon and its companions seem to re-
quire less heat than those of many otbe,
substances. This fact may be due to the
assumed separate existence of the atoms
In the new gases; for the hot spectra are
supposed to emanate only from free atoms
ana not from molecules The hot spectrum
OF argon is rich in blue lines, while the
cold spectrum Is marked by the predomi-
nance OF red.
AT some future time, when mankind has
solved the riddle involved in the existence
OF the fixed periods Of vibration causing the
multitudinous lines in spectra, all these oh
servations will be rich in meaning. For
the present we can only feel that the pbe
nomena just mentioned bear the most int,.
mate relation possible to the Fundamental
essence Of material and force In this field
we have just begun to pan out" a little
gold from lode which promises to Yield
untold richness.
The members of the American Association
for the Advancement OF Science were as
founded to hear, at its recent meeting n,
the possible discovery. by Mr.. c. F. Brush.
OF another gas In the atmosphere, a gas SUD-
posed to be far lighter than hydrogen and
to permeate all space. 1t is needless n
call attention to some obvious theoretical
objections to the existence of this so-calIed
"etherion," and the time Is not vet rine
for an adequate judgment OF the matter.
Mr.. Brush's observations are extremely in.
teresting and important, even IL the infer
ence from them is not a. once to be ac
cepted. In such case one must bear in