In this paper it is proposed to analyse in a tentative way the Electron-Transference Hypothesis of Chemical Combination which has been put forward by Lord Kelvin in his paper entitled “Aepinus Atomised” (Phil. Mag., 1902), and by Sir J. J. Thomson (Phil. Mag., 1904).

This hypothesis postulates that on the combination of two or more atoms to form a chemical compound electrons are transferred from atoms playing an electro-positive part to those playing an electro-negative part in the molecule, the number of electrons thus transferred being taken as a measure of the valencies of the respective atoms in the molecule. Such an hypothesis would not lead to conceptions at variance with the facts of electrolytic dissociation.