Elements And Electrons

of two atoms ; and by taking the density of oxygen as 16, and comparing the density of any other gas on this standard, the molecular weight of that gas can be ascertained by doubling the figure obtained for the density. Certain substances, however, like sulphur, mentioned in last chapter, have more complicated molecules at low than at high temperatures. Another case is iodine, of which the atomic weight, deduced from the specific heat, and from the equivalent, is 127. At moderate temperatures, say 5ooC., its vapour-density is also 127; and from this it is concluded that its molecule, like those of oxygen and hydrogen, consists of two atoms. Victor Meyer, latej. Professor at£Heidel- berg, discovered that at 1700, under low pressure, the density is reduced to 63-5, half of 127; that can be interpreted only on the supposition that the molecules of I2 dissociate into molecules of I1 at that very high temperature ; as the temperature falls, re-combination occurs, and the molecule I2 is reproduced by union of molecules, or what is here the same, of atoms of I1. Sulphur and iodine are both " elements," or rather compounds of one atom with another, or with more than one other atom of the same kind. But instances of dissociation of compounds are not infrequent, where the products of dissociation differ from one another. Ammonium chloride is an instance of such a compound. Its formula is NH'Cl; it is a white salt, not unlike common salt, with a saline taste ; it is made...