May 1926
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
260
Manufacturer uses molecules suitable for the purpose. To build other elements other molecules are used. The Pedigree of the Molecule But the scientists say even more to us. They tell us that though the molecule Is the primary physical material cut of which the element Is manufactured, yet the molecule Is Itself formed of its own distinct chemical constituents. These factors, which In conjunction produce the molecule, are called “ atoms.” The molecule of water is the product of the union of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. This law of construction of molecules through the union of their component atoms runs through all matter. The scientists can declare to us the Immediate pedigree of the molecules. They can declare to us the scientific.pro cess of the urflons of the atoms. There are few stories more fascinating than the stories Physics and Chemistry can tell us concerning these processes. For a long time the scientists went no further back than the atoms. Physics and Chemistry for generations rested content In the belief that the atoms were the very foundations of matter, and that in the differences of the atoms was to be found the explanation of the differences in the molecules, and that In the differences of the molecules was to -be found the explanation of the differences in all elements. The atoms of science are all different. The atom of hydrogen has its characteristic properties. The atom of oxygen has its distinguishing peculiarities. Each atom of hydrogen is like all other atoms of hydrogen, but unlike all atoms of oxygen. It seemed to be sufficient to rest the varying behaviour of the varying atoms upon the differences in the atoms themselves. The Mysterious Atom Then, a few years ago radium was discovered and, strange to say, when the atom of any element' was exposed to radium it was discovered that even the modern scientists had been mistaken and that the atom was not the starting point in matter at all, but could itself be disorganized—- shattered— exploded— as it were— and itself dissolved into varying electrical constituents. These constituents were found to consist of units now popularly known as "nuclei” , “ protons” and “ electrons.” With these discoveries, the very’ foundation theories of the scientists as to the construction of matter were exploded. It became imperative for the scientist speedily to forget that he had ever said that the atom was the starting point and to learn the what, the why, the whence, the whither of the constitutents of the atom. These cannot be seen, felt or even accurately described. It cannot be stated with certainty even that they are- elec trical. Their amazing minuteness can hardly be imagined. If we conceive of an atom as comparable in size to the point of the finest needle, it is yet, so far as the constituents are concerned, a universe, the nuclei, protons and electrons as worlds floating in spaces within the atom. The Limitations of Knowledge But the most amazing thing proved to be that the rela tively illimitable nuclei, protons, electrons in the atoms of any one element all seem to be absolutely identical in char acter and composition with the nuclei, protons and elec trons in the atoms of every other known element. The con stituents of an atom of hydrogen seem to be identical in kind with the constituents of an atom of oxygen. This astonishing alikeness runs through every atom of every element. The number of protons and electrons in the atom of any given element may vary from the number of . (Continued on page 300)
More of the twenty-seven branches of Dr. Mark A. Matthews’ First Presbyterian Church of Seattle, Wash., in addition to those shown in the April number of The King’s Business.
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