CHAP I - INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER

Summary

1. The Kinetic Theory of Matter rests essentially upon two closely related hypotheses; the first—that of the molecular structure of matter, the second—the hypothesis that heat is a manifestation of molecular motion.

The first of these hypotheses belongs to the domain of chemistry; indeed it forms the basis of modern chemical science. It is believed not only that all matter is composed of a great number of molecules, but also that all molecules of the same chemical substance are exactly similar as regards size, mass, etc. If this were not so, it would be possible to separate the molecules of different types by chemical processes of fractionisation, whereas Dalton found that the successively separated fractions of a substance were exactly similar. It is true that very modern research has thrown some doubt on whether the molecules of a substance are all as exactly identical as they were once thought to be, but it is also true that the hypothesis of exact similarity of molecules is now, as a broad truth, unassailable, and forms a suitable and convenient working hypothesis for the Theory of Matter.

The second hypothesis, the identification of heat with molecular motion, is that with which the Kinetic Theory of Matter is especially concerned. This hypothesis was for long regarded as pure conjecture, incapable of direct proof, and probable just in proportion to the number of phenomena which could be explained by its help.