A Magneton Theory of the Structure of the Atom: (With Two Plates)

To this brief sketch might be added the magnetic properties as obviously being due to the behavior of the outer part of the atom. Now there is no theory that is able to explain, to any appreciable extent, both sets of phenomena. Nor even is there any that shows much promise in connection with the properties of the outer shell alone especially the chemical and magnetic properties of the atom: most of the recent work (by Rutherford, Moseley, and others) has emphasized the other part of the problem the properties of the core, or nucleus of the atom. Bohr stheory, based upon the conception of the nuclear positive charge, gives an interesting treatment of the problem of spectrum series, but its chemical application is very meager indeed (see 8). On the other-hand, the present theory, since it originated in a study of the simpler aspects of chemical affinity, emphasizes the properties of the outer shell, though not necessarily at the expense of the other set of properties. The essential assumption of this theory is that the electron is itself magnetic, having in addition to its negative charge the properties of a current circuit whose radius (finally estimated to be 1.5 xlO cm.: see 16) is less than that of the atom but of the same order of magnitude. Hence it will usually be spoken of as the magneton. It ,may be pictured by supposing that the unit negative charge is distributed continuously around a ring which rotates on its axis (with a peripheral velocity of the order of that of light: 5, 6) ;and presumably the ring is exceedingly thin. It might at first sight be supposed that if the electron were really thus magnetic, this property would have been detected in the behavior of kathode rays, but it will be shown later (18) why it could not. This rotation of a ring-shaped negative charge is intended to replace the usual conception of rotating rings of electrons in
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