The Interpretation of Nature

ained in the gaseous state by the action of heat. By progressive cooling, due to the escape of the energy, the mass assumes the fluid form. A yet further loss reduces it to the solid condition. Each of these transitions, though brought about by a progressive and undiscrimina- tive series of changes, is usually accomplished in a sudden manner. The passages from the gaseous to the fluid or from the fluid to the solid state are, speaking generally, immediate, though the changes of temperature which lead to them are absolutely continuous. A very striking instance of this action is seen in the case of water when that substance is affected by variations in heat. Withinthe limit of temperatures which may be readily observed on the surface of the earth, water or its components exist in several diverse conditions. With a certain high temperature, the elements which compose water are disassociated and exist as two very diverse gases, neither of which has any trace of the physical properties of the fluid which is formed by their union. With a lower temperature, together with certain influences which may serve to bring about a chemical union of the elements, the oxygen and hydrogen enter into relations with each other, producing water. Given a sufficiently high temperature, the conjoined elements may continue in the state of vapor. At a certain lower temperature we perceive that the vapor is suddenly converted into a liquid. Each of these changes occurs suddenly and is revolutio...