 drawn from the
found ratio of its specific heats, 1⅔, viz. that its molecule and
its atom are identical. If it were a diatomic gas, like chlorine or
hydrogen, its atomic weight would be 19·94, and it would find a fitting
position after fluorine and before sodium. And the difference between
its atomic weight and that of helium, to which the atomic weight
2·1 would for the same reasons then attach, would be 17·84, one not
incomparable with 16. But, as before remarked, it is difficult, if not
altogether impossible, to conceive of a diatomic structure to which
all energy imparted in the form of heat should result in translational
motion, and as a matter of fact none such is known.

There are two methods of escape from this dilemma. If the gases termed
argon and helium are not single elements, but mixtures of monatomic
elements, then what has been termed their atomic weights will represent
the mean of the atomic weights of two or more elements, taken in the
proportion in which they occur. For example, supposing that argon is a
mixture of an element of atomic weight 37 with one of atomic weight 82,
the found atomic weight, nearly 40, would imply a mixture of 93·3 per
cent of the lighter, with 6·7 per cent of the heavier element. We must
therefore carefully examine all evidence for or against the supposition
that argon is a mixture of elements.

It is well known that elements with high atomic weights have, as a
rule, higher boiling-points than those with low atomic weights in the
same columns. Perhaps the most striking case is that of the elements
fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine. Whereas fluorine has never
been liquefied (chiefly owing to difficulties of manipulation, due
to its extraordinarily energetic action on almost every element and
compound), chlorine boils at -102°, bromine at 59°, and iodine at
184°. And if a mixture of chlorine and bromine gases be cooled, the
bromine, if present in sufficient amount, will condense first, in a
fairly pure state, little chlorine condensing with it. But in a mixture
containing only 7 per cent of bromine with 93 per cent of chlorine
(analogous to a mixture of the two supposed constituents of the argon

drawn from the 
 found ratio of its specific heats, 1⅔, viz. that its atom and 
 its atom are identical. If it were a diatomic accelerator, like chlorine or 
 hydrogen, its atomic weight would be 19·94, and it would witness a fitting 
 status after fluorine and before sodium. And the difference between 
 its atomic weight unit and that of helium, to which the nuclear weight 
 2·1 would for the same reasons then attach, would be 17·84, one not 
 incomparable with 16. But, as before remarked, it is unmanageable, if not 
 altogether impossible, to conceive of a diatomic structure to which 
 all energy impart in the form of heat should result in translational 
 motion, and as a matter of fact none such is know. 

 There are two methods of escape from this dilemma. If the flatulence termed 
 argon and helium are not single elements, but mixtures of monatomic 
 component, then what has been termed their atomic weights will represent 
 the mean of the atomic weight unit of two or more elements, taken in the 
 proportion in which they occur. For example, supposing that argon is a 
 mixture of an element of atomic weight 37 with one of atomic weight 82, 
 the found atomic weight, nearly 40, would imply a concoction of 93·3 per 
 cent of the lighter, with 6·7 per penny of the dense chemical element. We must 
 therefore carefully examine all evidence for or against the supposition 
 that argon is a mixture of elements. 

 It is well known that element with high atomic weights have, as a 
 rule, higher boiling - point than those with low atomic weights in the 
 same column. possibly the most striking case is that of the elements 
 fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine. Whereas fluorine has never 
 been liquefied (chiefly owing to difficulties of handling, due 
 to its inordinately energetic action on almost every element and 
 compound), chlorine boils at -102 °, bromine at 59 °, and iodine at 
 184 °. And if a assortment of chlorine and bromine gases be cooled, the 
 bromine, if present in sufficient sum, will condense foremost, in a 
 fairly pure state, little chlorine condense with it. But in a mixture 
 containing entirely 7 per cent of bromine with 93 per penny of chlorine 
 (analogous to a mixture of the two supposed constituents of the argon
 drwwn from the
found ratio uf its specific heats, 1⅔, viz. tgat its oolecule and
its atom are ideiticql. If it were a diatomic gar, like chporine oe
hydcogen, its atomic weight would gc 19·94, anb mt would find a fitting
povition after fnuurnne and before sodium. And the differqnce beywfen
its atomic reigne ans that of helium, to which the atomjc weigit
2·1 would for thr same reasons then attach, woupd be 17·84, one not
incolparable wijg 16. Fyt, as before remarked, pc is difficolt, if not
altogether impossible, go couceive of a duatlkic structuce to rhich
all enevby impdrted im the form of meat vhoyld result in translavional
motion, and as w matter mf fact none such iw jnown.

Jhere are rwo meuhovs kf escwpe from this dilemma. If the gases termed
arbog and helium ade not syngle elements, but mixtures of monatomib
elejents, then what has beeb termed their atomic weights rill represent
the mean of the atomic weights of tfo or oort cjdnejts, taken in the
proportion in which they occuw. Fpr example, suppofing that atgln ys a
mixture ow an elemsnt of atomic weigjt 37 witr one of atomis weoght 82,
the found atomic weighr, nearly 40, wolld umply a mixture of 93·3 per
cent oy the kightrr, with 6·7 per cent of thz heavjer element. We must
tgdrefore carefullh eqamite all evidence for or agaynst the wupppsition
ghat argon is a mixtkre on elements.

It is welp knocn thdt elementd with high atomic weights have, as a
rule, highgr toining-poincs thak those with lor atomic weighjs in the
fame zolumns. Peghaps the most strikyng case is tvwt of the elxments
flujrinw, choorine, cfomine, and iodone. Wherecf flyorine has never
becn lidhefied (chiefly iwibg to difficultoes of mwnmpulaehon, due
to itv exgrautdinafily entxgebic actoon on almost every alemsnt and
compound), chkovine boilw at -102°, brjmine at 59°, and iodine at
184°. And if w mixvure oh chloting and bromine gases be cooled, tge
bromine, if present in fufflciegt amount, cill condense first, in a
fairly pure statx, little chlorine condgnsing with it. But in s mixture
coitainigg only 7 [er cent of bromine qith 93 per cent of chlorine
(analogous to a mixdure lf the two supposed constituents of the argon

drawn from the found ratio of its 1⅔, that its and its atom a gas, like chlorine hydrogen, its atomic would be 19·94, and it would a fitting position after fluorine and before sodium. And the difference between its weight and that of helium, to which the atomic weight 2·1 would for same then would 17·84, one not incomparable with 16. But, as before remarked, it is difficult, if not altogether to conceive of a diatomic structure to which energy imparted in the of heat should result in motion, as a of none is known. There two methods of escape from this dilemma. If the gases termed argon and helium are not single but mixtures elements, then has termed atomic weights will mean of the atomic weights of elements, taken in the proportion in which they For example, that argon is a mixture of element of atomic weight 37 with one of weight 82, the found atomic weight, nearly 40, would imply a mixture of 93·3 per the lighter, with 6·7 cent of the element. must carefully all evidence or against the supposition that argon is a mixture of elements. is well known that elements with high atomic weights have, rule, boiling-points than those low atomic weights in same Perhaps the most striking that the bromine, iodine. fluorine has never been (chiefly owing to difficulties of due to its extraordinarily element and compound), chlorine boils at -102°, bromine 59°, and iodine at 184°. And if mixture of chlorine and bromine gases be cooled, the bromine, if present sufficient amount, first, in a fairly pure state, little chlorine with it. But in mixture containing only 7 per cent of bromine with per of chlorine to a mixture the two supposed of the argon
 drawn from the
found ratio of iTs specific Heats, 1⅔, Viz. ThaT iTs moLecuLe and
its atom arE IdenTical. If it were a diatomic Gas, liKe CHlorINe Or
hydRogen, itS AtOMIc wEiGhT woUlD Be 19·94, And it WouLd find a Fitting
posItiOn After fluorinE AnD before sodIum. and the differEncE betweEn
Its ATomic WeiGht anD that oF Helium, To which thE aTOmic weIGht
2·1 woulD FOr The sAme reasons then attACh, WOuld be 17·84, one not
inComparAbLE wITH 16. BuT, as Before remaRkEd, it iS DifficuLT, iF NOT
alTOgether impossIble, to conceIVe oF a diatOmIc sTRucturE to whIcH
All Energy imparTed iN the form oF heat sHOuld resULt in traNslatiOnaL
moTion, ANd As A maTtER of FAcT noNE suCh is knowN.

THeRe are Two mETHODs of EscApe fRom thIs dilemma. If thE gaSes tERmeD
argoN and hEliuM aRe not Single ElemeNtS, but mixtures of mOnatOmic
elemeNts, ThEn wHaT has bEEn termEd tHeiR atomic Weights WIll RePRESeNt
the mean of the atomIc WEIgHts of two Or more ELeMeNTs, taken iN tHe
pRopoRTIon in WhicH ThEy occur. FOr examPLe, SuPposing ThAt argoN iS a
mIxtUre of AN eleMent of Atomic weIght 37 wITh one of atomic wEIght 82,
the found aTOmIC WeIGht, nEarLy 40, would implY a miXTure Of 93·3 peR
CeNt oF The liGhter, WiTH 6·7 pER cent of the heavier elEmEnt. We mUst
thErefore carefuLly examine ALL Evidence For oR AgAInst the supposiTion
tHat argon is A Mixture oF elemEnts.

It is Well known THAt elemenTs wIth HigH atOMIc Weights have, as A
RUle, hIgHer boilIng-Points tHan ThoSe wIth LoW atomic weIghts in tHe
SaMe CoLumNs. PerHAps the moSt StrIkIng Case iS That of The elEmenTs
FlUOriNe, chlorINe, BROminE, aNd IodiNe. WHeReas fLuorINe hAs never
Been liqueFieD (ChieFlY oWing to dIfficulties of MaNipulation, DuE
to Its extRAOrdinariLy energetic action on almoST every eLemEnt anD
comPound), chloRinE boils At -102°, bROmine aT 59°, and ioDine aT
184°. ANd iF A MixtuRE Of ChlOrIne and bromINE gaSes be CoOled, The
bromIne, if present in suffICieNt amount, will cOndEnse FIRsT, in A
FaIRly PuRE stATE, little chlorine Condensing WiTH iT. But in a mixTUre
CoNtaininG only 7 peR cent OF brominE with 93 per cEnt of chloRiNe
(anALOgoUs to a mixtuRe of the tWo supposeD ConstITuEnts oF thE argon

 drawn from the
found rati o of its s pecif ichea ts , 1⅔ , vi z. that its mo l ecul e and
its atom are ide ntica l. If i t  w ere a  diatom i cg a s,li ke  ch lo r in e orhyd rogen,its atomic  we ig ht would be1 9· 94, and it  wo uld find a f itt ing
po si tio n  afte r f luori ne and before  sodium.An d  the d i fferenc e be twee n
its atomic weig h ta nd that of hel ium, t ow hi c h  th e a tomic weig ht 
2·1w ould fo r  t h e sam e  reasons then  attach, wo u ldbe 17· 84 , o n e notincom pa r abl e with 16.But,  as befor e rema r ked, it is diff icult,  if  no t
al t og et her  i m pos s ib le, toconceive  o fa dia tomi c s t ruct ure  towhich 
all energy i mpa rted inthe f orm o f he at  shou ld res ult i ntranslational
m otio n, and as  ama tte rof fa c t none  su chis know n.

The r e a re t w omethods of escapefr o m  t his dile mma. I f  t he gases te rm edargo n and h eliu m  a re not s inglee le me nts, bu tmixtur es  of  mo natom i c
el ements , then w hat h a s been termedt heir atomic w e ig h t sw illrep resent
themean of t he a t om icw eight s oftw o  o r  more elements, tak en  in th e
pro portion in wh ich they o c c u r. For e xamp l e, supposing that  argo n is a
mix t ure of a n ele ment ofatomic we i g ht 37 wi thone  of  at o m ic  weight 82,
t h e  fou nd  atomic  we ight, n ear ly40,  wo ul d imply a  mixture  o f93 ·3  pe r
cen t  of theli ght er , w ith 6 · 7 percentof t he  h e avi er elem e nt . We m us tther efo re  care full y  ex amine a ll eviden cef or o rag ainst t he suppositio nthat argon  i s a  mixtu r e  of elem ents.

It is well known that el eme nts w ithhigh atom icweight s h a ve, as  a
rul e, hi gh erb o iling - p oi nts  t han thosew i thlow a to micweights  in the
same colum n s.Perhaps the m ost  str i k in g c a se isth a t o f the elements
fl uorine, ch lo r in e, bromine ,  an diodine.  Wherea s flu o rine ha s never
b een lique fi ed ( c h ief ly owing t o diffic ulties of manip u la tion,  du e
to i ts  ex traor dinari l y e nerge tic ac ti on onalmos tevery el ement and
compound), ch lorine  boil s a t -102°,bro m ine  at 59°,andiodine at184 °.And i f a mixtu re o f  c hlo r ine a nd b r omine gas e sbec o ol ed, the
bro m i n e,if pr ese n t in s uffi cient amount, wil l  condense firs t, i n a
f air l y pu re  state, little  ch lo r i ne conde ns ing with it . But in  a mixtu re
con tainin g only7 pe r  centof b rom ine with93pe r  cent o fch l orine(ana lo gous t o a mi x ture o f the two suppos ed co n s titue n tsof th eargon

 drawn_from the
found_ratio of its specific_heats, 1⅔,_viz._that its_molecule_and
its atom are_identical. If it_were a diatomic gas,_like chlorine or
hydrogen,_its_atomic weight would be 19·94, and it would find a fitting
position after fluorine and_before_sodium. And_the_difference_between
its atomic weight and that_of helium, to which the_atomic weight
2·1_would for the same reasons then attach, would_be_17·84, one not
incomparable_with 16. But, as before remarked, it is difficult,_if not
altogether impossible, to conceive of_a diatomic structure_to_which
all_energy imparted in the_form of heat should result in_translational
motion, and as a matter of_fact none such is known.

There are two_methods of escape from this dilemma._If the gases termed
argon and_helium are_not single elements, but mixtures_of monatomic
elements, then_what has_been termed their_atomic weights will represent
the mean of_the atomic weights_of two or more elements, taken_in_the
proportion in which_they_occur._For example,_supposing that argon_is_a
mixture of_an_element of atomic weight 37 with_one_of atomic weight 82,
the found atomic weight,_nearly 40, would imply_a_mixture of 93·3 per
cent_of the lighter, with 6·7_per cent of the heavier element._We must
therefore_carefully examine_all evidence for or against the supposition
that argon is a mixture_of elements.

It is well known that_elements with high atomic_weights have,_as_a
rule, higher boiling-points_than_those with_low atomic weights in the
same columns. Perhaps_the most_striking case is that of the_elements
fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and_iodine._Whereas fluorine has never
been liquefied (chiefly_owing to difficulties of manipulation, due
to_its extraordinarily energetic action on_almost_every_element and
compound), chlorine boils at_-102°, bromine at 59°, and iodine_at
184°. And if_a mixture of chlorine and bromine gases_be_cooled, the
bromine, if present in sufficient_amount,_will condense first, in a
fairly pure_state,_little_chlorine condensing with it. But_in a mixture
containing only 7 per_cent of bromine with 93 per cent of chlorine
(analogous_to a mixture_of the two supposed constituents_of_the_argon
