I am unable to enter here into the detail of the questions connected
with the theories of Gibbs, which have been the object of numerous
theoretical studies, and also of a series, ever more and more
abundant, of experimental researches. M. Duhem, in particular, has
published, on the subject, memoirs of the highest importance, and a
great number of experimenters, mostly scholars working in the physical
laboratory of Leyden under the guidance of the Director, Mr Kamerlingh
Onnes, have endeavoured to verify the anticipations of the theory.
We are a little less advanced as regards abnormal substances; that is
to say, those composed of molecules, partly simple and partly complex,
and either dissociated or associated. These cases must naturally be
governed by very complex laws. Recent researches by MM. Van der Waals,
Alexeif, Rothmund, Kuenen, Lehfeld, etc., throw, however, some light on
the question.
The daily more numerous applications of the laws of corresponding
states have rendered highly important the determination of the
critical constants which permit these states to be defined.
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