MOLECULE. An atom not capable of mechanical subdivision. The minute atoms of which bodies are formed. Of organic molecules, the late Prof. Henry said, we are able to con struct a crystal of alum, from its elements, by combining sulphur, oxygen, hydrogen, potas sium and aluminum; but the chemist has not yet been found who could make an atom of sugar from the elements of which it is composed. He can readily decoinpose it into its constituents, but it is impossible to arrange the atoms artifici ally, as in the ordinary cases of chemical manip ulation, to produce a substante in any respect similar to sugar. When the attempt is made the atoms arrange themselves spontaneously into a greater number of simpler and smaller groups or molecules of high order, each containing no less than thirty-four atoms of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. For the building up of organic mole cules, the vital principle must come into play upon inferior groups of simple elements. Thus are formed plants, trees, insects, fishes, and sen tient animals; in fact everything which has life. Atoms, once formed, may he combined and re-combined in the lahoratory of the chemist, and new compounds arranged out of them. Organic bodies formed of organic molecules, are greatly complex, and readily distributed and resolved into a greater number of lesser groups. Thus taking the constituents of cane sugar, Prof. Henry shows that organic bodies, are in what may be called a state of power, or of tottering equilibrium, like a stone poised on a pillar, which tbe slightest jar will overturn; they are ready to rush into closer union with the least disturbing force. In this simple fact is the
explanation of the whole phenomena of fermen tation, and of the effect produced by yeast and other bodies, which, being themselves in a state of change, overturn the unstable equilibrium of the organic molecules, and resolve them into other and more stable compounds. Fer mentation, then, simply consists in the running down from one stage to another of organic molecules, changing their constitution, and at last arriving at a neutral state. There is, how ever, one fact in connection with the running down of the organic molecules which deserves particular attention, namely, that it must always be accompanied with the exhibition of power or energy, with a disturbance of the ethereal equilibrium in the form of heat, sometimes even of light, or perhaps of the chemical force, or of that of the nervous energy, in whatever form of motion the latter may consist. It is a general truth of the highest importance in the study of the phenomena of Nature, that whenever two atoms enter into more intimate union, heat, or some forra of motive power, is always generated. It may, however, be again immediately expended in effecting a change in the surrounding matter, or it may be exhibited in the form of one of the radient emanations.