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The first chemical atom selected for examination was an atom of
Hydrogen (H). On looking carefully at it, it was seen to consist of six small
bodies, contained in an egg-like form, Fig. 1. It rotated with great rapidity
on it own axis, vibrating at the same time, the internal bodies performing
similar gyrations. The whole atom spins and quivers and has to be steadied
before exact observation is possible. The six little bodies are arranged in
two sets of three, forming two triangles that are not interchangeable. The
lines in the diagram of the atom on the gaseous sub-plane, Fig 1, are not
lines of force, but show the two triangles; on a plane surface the
interpenetration of the triangles cannot be clearly indicated. The six bodies
are not all alike; they each contain three smaller bodies—each of these being
an ultimate physical atom or Anu. In two of them the three Anu are arranged in
a line, while in the remaining four they are arranged in a triangle.
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The first thing that happens on removing a gaseous atom from its
'hole' or encircling ‘wall’ is that the contained bodies are set free, and,
evidently released from tremendous pressure, assume spherical or ovoid forms,
the Anu within each re-arranging themselves, more or less, within the new
'hole' or 'wall'. The figures are, of course, three-dimensional, and often
remind one of crystals; tetrahedra, octahedra, and other like forms being of
constant occurrence.
It is, of course, impossible to convey in words the clear conceptions that are gained
by direct vision of the objects of study, and Fig. 2 is offered as a
substitute, however poor, for the lacking vision of the readers. The
horizontal lines separate from each other the seven substates of matter;
solid, liquid, gas, ether 4, ether 3, ether 2, ether 1. The successive
changes undergone by the Hydrogen atom are shown in the compartments
vertically above it. It must be remembered that the bodies shown
diagrammatically in no way indicate relative size; as a body is raised from
one substate to the one immediately above it, it is enormously magnified for
the purpose of investigation.
When the gaseous atom of Hydrogen is raised to the E4 level the wall of the limiting
spheroid in which the bodies are enclosed, being composed of the matter of
the gaseous kind, drops away and the six bodies are set free. They at once
re-arrange themselves in two triangles, each enclosed by a limiting sphere;
one sphere having a positive character, the other being negative. These form
the Hydrogen particles of the lowest etheric plane, marked E4 (ether 4) in Fig. 2.
On raising to E3, they undergo another disinte-gration, losing their limiting walls. The
positive sphere becomes two bodies, one consisting of the two groups
distinguishable by the linear arrangement of the contained Anu, enclosed in a
wall, and the other being the third body enclosed on the E4 level and now set
free. The negative sphere also becomes two bodies, one consisting of the two
groups of three Anu, and the second, the remaining body, being set free.
These free bodies do not remain on the E3 level but pass immediately to E2
leaving the positive and negative groups, each containing two groups of three
Anu, as the representatives of Hydrogen on E3. On taking these bodies a step
higher to E2 in their turn, their wall disappears, and the internal triads
are set free, those containing the Anu arranged lineally being positive, and
those with the triangular arrangement being negative.
On again raising these bodies a step further, the falling away of the walls sets the contained Anu free and we
reach the ultimate physical atom, the matter of E1, the Anu.
The disintegration of this sets free particles of astral matter, so that we have
thus reached the limit of physical matter. |
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Hydrogen was the first chemical element examined and has already been discussed in Chapter
I. The Hydrogen atom consists of 18 Anu arranged in 6 groups, each of 3 Anu,
all contained in an oval form. The six groups are at six points in space;
each of the three groups making one half of Hydrogen are linked to each other
across space by lines of attraction. We have thus the appearance of two interlaced triangles. Figs. 1
(same as the E5 part of Fig. 16) and 15 show the details and linking.
Hydrogen atoms were not observed to move in pairs.
In 1908 diagrams were given of the two halves of Hydrogen, but no record was then made
of the types of Anu, positive or negative, within each group of three. It was
then presumed, from the general appearance of the groups, that all Hydrogen
atoms were alike. In 1932, however, during a more detailed examination of the
two Hydrogen atoms in a molecule of water, a second variety of Hydrogen was discovered.
Hydrogen Variety 1 is composed of two halves, a positive and a negative. On examining Fig. 16 it
will be seen that the positive half or triangle is composed of 5 positive Anu
and 4 negative, thus making it preponderatingly positive; and that the
negative half or triangle is composed of 5 negative Anu and 4 positive, thus
making it preponderatingly negative.
The six groups are not all alike; they each contain three Anu, but in four of the groups
the three Anu are arranged in a triangle, and in the remaining two in a line.
To these small groups we have given the identifying symbols H3 and H3’.
In one large triangle all the three small groups have their Anu in the form of a triangle,
while in the other large triangle two of the groups of three Anu are in a
straight line and one in the form of a triangle. In the first edition of
Occult Chemistry the two linear triplets are shown as being one in each
triangle. Fig. 2. This variety was not observed by Mr. Leadbeater in 1932 and
appears to be rare. The common variety is that described above and shown in Fig. 16.
Hydrogen Variety 2 differs in the number of positive and negative Anu forming the atom. In the
first variety there are a total of 9, positive and 9 negative Anu, in the
second variety we find 10 positive and 8 negative. This variety is therefore
predominatingly positive. Fig. 17.
In the molecule of water, H2O, one Hydrogen atom is of the first variety
and the other of the second variety.
Hydrogen = (2H3' + H3) + (3H3)
6 spheres of 3 Anu = 18 Anu
Number weight 18/18 = 1.00
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From The Principles of Light and Color by Edwin D. Babbitt, 1878
Babbitt.pdf 14.6MB. 1290x2108
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"The illustrations there given,
referring to Babbitts book, of atomic
combination are entirely wrong and misleading, but if the stovepipe run
through the centre of the single atom be removed, the picture may be taken as
correct, and will give some idea of the complexity of this fundamental unit
of the physical universe.” -Mrs. Besant, 1909.
Occult Chemistry.
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As we have seen, a chemical atom may be dissociated into less complicated bodies; these,
again, into still less complicated; these, again, into yet still less
complicated. After the third dissociation but one more is possible; the
fourth dissociation gives the ultimate physical atom on the atomic sub-plane,
the Anu. This may vanish from the plane, but it can undergo no further
dissociation on it. In this ultimate state of physical matter two types of
units, or Anu, have been observed; they are alike in everything save the
direction of their whorls and of the force which pours through them. In the
one case force pours in from the "outside," from fourth-dimensional
space, the Astral plane, and passing through the Anu, pours into the physical
world. In the second, it pours in from the physical world, and out through
the Anu into the "outside" again, i.e., vanishes from the physical
world. The one is like a spring, from which water bubbles out; the other is
like a hole, into which water disappears. We call the Anu from which force
comes out positive or male; those through which it disappears, negative or
female. All Anu, so far as observed, are of one or other of these two forms. Fig. 3.
It will be seen that the Anu is a sphere, slightly flattened, and there is a depression
at the point where the force flows in, causing a heart-like form. Each is surrounded by a field.
The Anu can scarcely be said to be a "thing," though it is the material out of
which all things physical are composed. It is formed by the flow of the
life-force and vanishes with its ebb. The life-force is known to Theosophists
as Fohat, the force of which all the physical plane forces are
differentiations. When this force arises in "space," that is when
Fohat "digs holes in space,"—the apparent void which must be filled
with substance of some kind, of inconceivable tenuity—Anu appear; if this be
artificially stopped for a single Anu, the Anu disappears; there is nothing
left. Presumably, were that flow checked but for an instant, the whole
physical world would vanish as a cloud melts away in the empyrean. It is only
the persistence of that flow (the first life-wave, the work of the third
Logos) which maintains the physical basis of the universe.
In order to examine the construction of the Anu, a space is artificially made.
(By a certain action of the will, known to students, it is possible to make such a
space by pressing back and walling off the matter of space.) Then, if an
opening be made in the wall thus constructed, the surrounding force flows in,
and three whorls immediately appear surrounding the "hole" with
their triple spiral of two and a half coils, and returning to their origin by
a spiral within the Anu; these are at once followed by seven finer whorls,
which, following the spiral of the first three on the outer surface, and
returning to their origin by a spiral within that, flowing in the opposite
direction—form a caduceus with the first three. Each of the three coarser
whorls, flattened out, makes a closed circle; each of the seven finer ones,
similarly flattened out, makes a closed circle. The forces which flow in them
again come from "outside," from a fourth-dimensional space. Each of
the finer whorls is formed of seven yet finer ones, set successively at right
angles to each other, each finer than its predecessor; these we call spirillae.
(Each spirilla is animated by the life-force of a plane, and four are at
present normally active, one for each Round. Their activity in an individual
may be prematurely forced by yoga practice.)
In the three whorls flow currents of different electricities; the seven whorls vibrate in
response to etheric waves of all kinds—to sound, light, heat, etc.; they show
the seven colours of the spectrum; give out the seven sounds of the natural
scale; respond in a variety of ways to physical vibration—flashing, singing,
pulsing bodies, they move incessantly, inconceivably beautiful and brilliant.
The Anu is a sun in miniature in its own universe of the inconceivably minute. Each of the
seven whorls is connected with one of the Planetary Logoi, so that each Planetary
Logos has a direct influence playing on the very matter of which all things
are constructed. It may be supposed that the three conveying electricity, a
differentiation of Fohat, are related to the Solar Logos.
Force pours into the heart-shaped depression at the top of the Anu, and issues from the
point, and is changed in character by its passage; further, force rushes
through every spiral and every spirilla, and the changing shades of colour
that flash out from the rapidly revolving and vibrating Anu depend on the
several activities of the spirals; sometimes one, sometimes another, is
thrown into more energetic action, and with the change of activity from one
spiral to another the colour changes.
The Anu has—as observed so far—three proper motions, i.e., motions of
its own, independent of any imposed upon it from outside. It turns
incessantly upon its own axis, spinning like a top; it describes a small
circle with its axis, as though the axis of the spinning top moved in a small
circle ; it has a regular pulsation, a contraction and expansion, like the
pulsation of the heart. When a force is brought to bear upon it, it dances up
and down, flings itself wildly from side to side, performs the most
astonishing and rapid gyrations, but the three fundamental motions
incessantly persist. If it be made to vibrate, as a whole, at the rate which
gives any one of the seven colours, the whorl belonging to that colour glows
out brilliantly.
An electric current brought to bear upon the Anu checks their proper motions, i.e.,
renders them slower; the Anu exposed to it arrange themselves in parallel
lines, and in each line the heart-shaped depression receives the flow, which
passes out through the apex into the depression of the next, and so on. The
Anu always set themselves to the current. Fig. 4. In all the diagrams the
heart-shaped body, exaggerated to show the depression caused by the inflow
and the point caused by the outflow, is a single Anu.
The action of electricity opens up ground of large extent, and cannot be dealt with here.
Does it act on the Anu themselves, or on molecules, or sometimes on one and
sometimes on the other? In soft iron, for instance, are the internal
arrangements of the chemical atom forcibly distorted, and do they elastically
return to their original relations when released? In steel is the distortion permanent?
It will be understood from the foregoing, that the Anu cannot be said to have a wall of
its own, unless these whorls of force can be so designated; its
"wall" is the pressed back "space". As said in 1895, of
the chemical atom, the force "clears itself a space, pressing back the
undifferentiated matter of the plane, and making to itself a whirling wall of
this matter." The wall belongs to space, not to the atom. |
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NOTE BY C. JINARAJADASA
The sphere-wall of the Anu. Each Anu, as each group of Anu, whether few in number or
making a large configuration as in Radium, has round it what has been termed
a "sphere-wall". This enclosing sphere is at a great distance from
the central group and is generally a sphere; there are a few exceptions as in
Nitrogen, an ovoid. When writing out for publication the structure of the Anu,
Annie Besant stated that the sphere-wall of the Anu was composed of the
"undifferentiated matter of the plane". From the beginning this has
created difficulties for me, since the term used by her to describe the
sphere-wall could only be composed of Anu. It was only later that a special
investigation was made to examine the nature of the sphere-wall of the Anu.
Though there were no final conclusions on the matter, it appeared to the
investigator as if the sphere-wall was composed of forces radiating from the
centre, which after travelling a certain distance, returned to the centre.
The nature of this radiating force was not analyzed. Therefore, though the
sphere-wall appears as a part of the Anu, it is only a temporary phenomenon.
It was later discovered that the sphere-walls of Anu within the solar system
were all compressed by the attraction of the sun. When so compressed the
sphere-wall did not, as expected, have the shape of the dodecahedron, but
that of the rhombic dodecahedron.
KOILON—THE AETHER OF SPACE
The following account was written by C. W. Leadbeater in 1907. It is reproduced here as
giving further essential details concerning the relation between the planes of nature and the structure of the Anu:
The scientific hypothesis is that all space is filled with a substance called aether, as to
the constitution of which many apparently contradictory statements are made.
It is thought to be infinitely thinner than the thinnest gas, absolutely
frictionless and without weight, and yet from another point of view far
denser than the densest solid. In this substance the ultimate atoms of matter
are thought to float as motes may be seen to float in the air, and light,
heat and electricity are supposed to be its vibrations.
Theosophical investigators, using methods not yet at the disposal of physical science,
have found that this hypothesis includes under one head two entirely
different and widely separated sets of phenomena. They have been able to deal
with states of matter higher than the gaseous, and have observed that it is
by means of vibrations of this finer matter that light, heat and electricity
manifest themselves to us. Seeing that matter in these higher states thus
performs the functions attributed to the aether of science, they have
(perhaps unadvisedly) called these states etheric, and have thus left
themselves without a convenient name for that substance which fulfils the
other part of the scientific requirements.
Let us for the moment name this substance koilon (Greek word meaning
"hollow"—C. J.), since it fills what we are in the habit of calling
empty space. What Mulaprakriti or "mother-matter" is to the
inconceivable totality of universes, koilon is to our particular universe—not
to our solar system merely, but to the vast unit which includes all visible
suns. Between koilon and Mulaprakriti there must be very many stages, but we
have at present no means of estimating their number or of knowing anything
whatever about them.
To any power of sight which we can bring to bear upon it this koilon appears homogeneous,
though it is not probable that it is so in reality. It answers to scientific
demands in so far that it is out of all proportion denser than any substance
known to us—quite infinitely denser—belonging to another order and type of
density altogether. For the very kernel and nexus of the whole conception is
that what we call matter is not koilon, but the absence of koilon. So that to
comprehend the real conditions we must modify our ideas of matter and space—modify
them almost to the extent of reversing our terminology. Emptiness has become
solidity and solidity emptiness.
To help us to understand more clearly let us examine the ultimate atom
of the physical plane. (See Figs. 3 and 6.) It is composed of ten rings or
wires, which lie side by side, but never touch one another. If one of these
wires be taken away from the atom, and as it were untwisted from its peculiar
spiral shape and laid out on a flat surface, it will be seen that it is a
complete circle—a tightly twisted endless coil. This coil is itself a spiral
containing 1,680 turns; it can be unwound, and it will then make a much
larger circle. There are in each wire seven sets of such coils or spirillae,
each finer than the preceding coil, to which its axis lies at right angles.
The process of unwinding them in succession may be continued until we have
nothing but an enormous circle of the tiniest imaginable dots lying like
pearls upon an invisible string. These dots are so inconceivably small that many
millions of them are needed to make one ultimate physical atom. They appear
to be the basis of all matter of which we at present know anything; astral,
mental and buddhic atoms also are built of them, so we may regard them as
fundamental units of which all material atoms on any plane yet attainable are
composed.*
These units are all alike, spherical and absolutely simple in construction. Though they
are the basis of all matter, they are not themselves matter; they are not
blocks but bubbles. They do not resemble bubbles floating in the air, which
consist of a thin film of water separating the air within them from the air
outside, so that the film has both an outer and an inner surface. Their
analogy is rather with the bubbles that we see rising in water, bubbles which
may be said to have only one surface—that of the water which is pushed back
by the contained air. Just as the bubbles are not water, but are precisely
the spots from which water is absent, so these units are not koilon but the
absence of koilon—the only spots where it is not—specks of nothingness
floating in it, so to speak, for the interior of these space-bubbles is an
absolute void to the highest power of vision that we can turn upon them.
What then is their real content—the tremendous force that can blow bubbles in a material
of infinite density? What but the creative power of the Logos, the Breath
which He breathes into the waters of space when He wills that manifestation
shall commence? These infinitesimal bubbles are the "holes" which "Fohat
digs in space"; the Logos Himself fills them, and holds them in
existence against the pressure of the koilon because He Himself is in them.
These units of force are the bricks which He uses in the building of His
universe, and everything that we call matter, on however high or low a plane
it may be, is composed of these and so is divine in its very essence.
The Outbreathing which makes these bubbles is quite distinct from and long
antecedent to the Three Outpourings which have been so frequently discussed
in Theosophical literature; it is not even certain whether it is the work of
the Solar Logos or of One a stage higher still. The later Outpourings whirl
the bubbles into the various arrangements which we call the atoms of the
several planes, and then aggregate those atoms into the molecules of the
chemical elements.
The exact number of these bubbles included in an ultimate physical atom is not readily
ascertainable, but several different lines of calculation agree in indicating
it as closely approximating to the almost incredible total of fourteen
thousand millions. Where figures are so huge direct counting is obviously
impossible, but fortunately the different parts of the atom are sufficiently
alike to enable us to make an estimate whose margin of error is not likely to
be very great. The atom consists of ten wires, which divide themselves
naturally into two groups—the three which are thicker and more prominent, and
the seven thinner ones which correspond to the colours and planets. These
latter appear to be identical in constitution, though the forces flowing
through them must differ, since each responds most readily to its own special
set of vibrations. By actual counting it has been discovered that the numbers
of coils or spirillae of the first order in each wire is 1,680; and the
proportion of the different order of spirillae to one another is equal in all
cases that have been examined, and corresponds with the number of
bubbles in the ultimate spirilla of the lowest order. The ordinary sevenfold
rule works quite accurately with the thinner coils, but there is a very
curious variation with regard to the set of three. As may be seen from the
drawings, these are obviously thicker and more prominent, and this increase
of size is produced by an augmentation (so slight as to be barely
perceptible) in the proportion to one another of the different orders of
spirillae and in the number of bubbles in the lowest. This augmentation,
amounting at present to not more than •00571428 of the whole in each case, suggests
the unexpected possibility that this portion of the atom may be somehow
actually undergoing a change—may in fact be in process of growth, as there is
reason to suppose that these three thicker spirals orginally resembled the others.
Since observation shows us that each physical atom is represented by forty-nine
astral atoms, each astral atom by forty-nine mental atoms and each mental
atom by forty-nine of those on the buddhic plane, we have here evidently
several terms of a regular progressive series, and the natural presumption is
that the series continues where we are no longer able to observe it. Further
probability is lent to this assumption by the remarkable fact that—if we
assume one bubble to be what corresponds to an atom on the seventh or highest
of our planes and then suppose the law of multiplication to begin its
operation, so that 49 bubbles shall form the atom of the next or sixth plane,
2,401 that of the fifth, and so on—we find that the number indicated for the
physical atom (496) corresponds almost exactly with the
calculation based upon the actual counting of the coils. Indeed, it seems
probable that but for the slight growth of the three thicker wires of the
atom the correspondence would have been perfect.
(It's more proper to refer to the highest plane as the 1st, not the 7th as he does.)
It must be noted that an ultimate physical atom cannot be directly broken up into astral
atoms. If the unit of force which whirls those millions of bubbles into the
complicated shape of a physical atom be pressed back by an effort of will
over the threshold of the astral plane, the atom disappears instantly, for
the bubbles are released. But the same unit of force, working now upon a
higher level, expresses itself not through one astral atom, but through a
group of 49. If the process of pressing back the unit of force is repeated,
so that it energizes upon the mental plane, we find the group there enlarged
to the number of 2,401 of those higher atoms. Upon the buddhic plane the
number of atoms formed by the same amount of force is very much greater
still—probably the cube of 49 instead of the square, though they have not
been actually counted. It is also probable, though not certainly known, that
the number of bubbles utilized by that unit of force is the same on all these
planes, though grouped on the physical as one atom, on the astral as 49
atoms, on the mental as 2,401. Therefore one physical atom is not composed of
forty-nine astral or 2,401 mental atoms, but corresponds to them in the sense
that the force which manifests through it would show itself on those higher
planes by energizing respectively those numbers of atoms.
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The first etheric subplane E1 is formed, as has been previously explained, by single Anu. More
or less complex combinations of these Anu form successively the second, E2, third, E3, and fourth, E4, etheric subplanes.
The second subplane E2—The simplest union of Anu,
apparently never consisting of more than seven, form the second etheric subplane.
In Fig. 7 are shown some characteristic combinations of the E2 state; the Anu is conventional,
with the depression emphasized. The lines, always entering at the depression and
coming out at the apex, show the resultants of lines of force. Where no line appears
entering the depression, the force wells up from four-dimensional space;
where no line appears leaving the apex, the force disappears into
four-dimensional space; where the point of entry and departure is outside the
Anu, it is indicated by a dot. It must be remembered that the diagrams
represent three-dimensional objects, and that the Anu are not necessarily all on one plane.
The third Etheric Subplane E3—The E3 state, in some of its combinations,
appears at first sight to repeat those of the E2 state; the only obvious way of distinguishing
to which some of the groups of less complexity belong is to pull them out of
the "cell-wall"; if they are E2 groups they at once fly off as
separate Anu; if they are E3 groups they break up into two or more groups
containing a smaller number of Anu. Thus one of the E2 groups of iron,
containing seven Anu, is identical in appearance with an E3 heptad, but the
former dissociates into seven Anu, the latter into two triads and a single
Anu. Long-continued research into the detailed play of forces and their
results is necessary; we are here only able to give preliminary facts and
details, are opening up the way.
The fourth etheric subplane E4—
The E4 state preserves many of the forms in the elements,
modified by release from the pressure to which they are subjected in the
chemical atom. In this state various groups are thus recognizable which are
characteristic of allied elements.
These groups are taken from the products of the first disintegration of the chemical atom,
by forcibly removing it from its hole. The groups fly apart, assuming a great
variety of forms often more or less geometrical; the lines between the
constituents of the groups, where indicated, no longer represent lines of
force, but are intended to represent the impression of form, i.e., of the
relative position and motion of the constituents, made on the mind of the
observer. They are elusive, for there are no lines. The appearance of lines
is caused by the rapid motion of the constituents up and down, or along them
backwards and forwards. The dots represent Anu, within the elements. Fig. 9.
Two Anu, positive and negative, brought near to each other, attract each other, and
then commence to revolve round each other, forming a relatively stable
duality; such a molecule is neutral. Combinations of three or more Anu are
positive, negative or neutral, according to the internal molecular
arrangement; the neutral are relatively stable, the positive and negative are
continually in search of their respective opposites, with a view to
establishing a relatively permanent union.
Speaking generally, positive groups are marked by the points of Anu being turned
outward and negative groups by the points being turned inward towards each
other and the centre of the group.
The groups show all kinds of possible combinations; the combinations spin, turn head
over heels, and gyrate in endless ways. Each aggregation is surrounded with
an apparent cell-wall, a circle or oval, due to the pressure on the
surrounding matter caused by its whirling motion. The surrounding fields
strike on each other and the groups and rebound, dart hither and thither, for
reasons we have not distinguished.
pages 24-26
*The S-matrix, which led to the S-matrix theory,
which led to string theory, was first presented in 1937.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_string_theory.
Occult Chemistry first came out in 1908, 2nd Ed. 1919. |
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THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS
The first thing which is noticed by the observer, when he turns his attention to the
chemical atoms, is that they show certain definite forms. The main types are
not very numerous, and we found that, when we arranged the atoms we had
observed according to their external forms, with a few exceptions they fell
into seven natural classes. Fig. 10.
1. The Spike Group
2. The Dumb-bell Group
3. The Tetrahedron Group
4. The Cube Group
5. The Octahedron Group
6. The Crossed Bars Group
7. The Star Group
Each atom has a spherical or oval wall, within which the various groups of Anu move.
That wall is drawn as an ovoid in the case of Hydrogen; it must be imagined in the
case of every other element. A sphere-wall is a temporary effect, caused by
one or more Anu in rotation. Just as a stream of air under pressure will make
a hole on the surface of water, by pushing back that water, so is it with the
groups. As they revolve, the force of their motion drives back the
circumambient medium. That medium thus driven back by the atom element as it
moves round its axis is the space around it which is filled with millions of
loose Anu; it also drives back denser parts of what is called astral matter.
For instance the medium driven back by each separate funnel in Sodium is
astral atomic matter.
In the seven clearly defined forms it is worthy of notice that in divalent elements four
funnels open on the faces of a tetrahedron ; in trivalent, six funnels on the
faces of a cube; in tetravalent, eight funnels on the faces of an octahedron.
Here we have a regular sequence of the platonic solids, and the question
suggests itself, will further evolution develop elements shaped to the
dodecahedron and the icosahedron?
page 28
THE PERIODIC LAW (AFTER CROOKES) FIG. 12
In the line depicting a pendulum swinging backwards and forwards, all the elements are marked in
their order of weight; the lightest, Hydrogen, beginning the pendulum swing,
and the heaviest, Uranium, (and possibly one or more heavier, yet to be
discovered) closing the swing. Among the upright lines is a middle one, and
there are four on either side. If the middle perpendicular line represents no
valency, and also interperiodicity, and if the four lines on either side of
this median line represent Valency 1, Valency 2, Valency 3, and Valency 4;
then, it is found, as the elements are mapped out in the order of their
atomic weights, at the intersecting points of the pendulum line and the nine
upright lines, that the element appear in order of Valency.
With a few exceptions, elements with similar external forms fall on the same vertical
line. This may be seen on reference to Figure 12.
First come 4 elements which are formed before the swing of the pendulum begins.
These are ovoids.
The Spike Group.—The
atoms of each of the elements consist of a number of spikes radiating from a
central globe in the centre of a plate-like form.
The Dumb-bell Group.—The
atoms of this group consists of a central rod at the ends
of which we find a globe. From each of the globes project 12 funnels. The
whole making a form like a dumb-bell.
The elements in the dumb-bell and the spike group are those usually considered by chemists
as having a characteristic valence of one or seven. They are found to right and left of the central line.
The Tetrahedron Groups.—The atoms of this group have four funnels, containing ovoid
bodies, opening on the face of a tetrahedron. The funnels generally, but not
always, radiate from a central globe. There are two tetrahedron groups at
opposite sides of the central line of the pendulum swing. Their
characteristic valence is two or six. The tetrahedron seems to be one of the
favourite forms of nature and appears repeatedly in the internal structure.
There are two tetrahedron groups, to right and left of the central line.
The Cube Group.—The cube appears to be the form of trivalent elements. It has six funnels
containing ovoids and opening on the faces of the cube. There are two cube groups, at the left and right of the central line.
The Octahedron Group.—Here we find eight funnels opening on the eight faces of an
octahedron. The elements are tetravalent. The two octahedron groups occur at the extreme left and right of the swing of the pendulum.
The Bars Group.—This is the characteristic shape of sets of three closely allied elements termed
interperiodic. Fourteen bars, or seven crossed, radiate from a centre. This group occurs on the central line.
The Star Group.—A flat star, with five interpenetrating tetrahedra at the centre, is
characteristic of this group, which comprises the inert gases. This group occurs on the central line.
page 32
The Electron
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