ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS
Compounds may be broken up into their constituents, during the process of analysis, or they may be made to combine one with another, in synthesis. All the resources of modern science have been brought to bear, in efforts to effect these various alterations or changes. Great heat, extreme cold, chemical reägents, enormous pressures, high vacua, electrical currents and sparks, bombardment with radio-activity, etc.—all have been employed in these chemical investigations. Suitable laboratories have been constructed, encasing immense boilers, huge refrigeration machines, electrical contrivances of all kinds, etc. What tremendous strides have been made in this field during the past century—from the simple glass retorts, flasks and apparatus of a century ago! But this only shows us how tremendous would be our progress could men but learn to work together, in harmony, welded together by a common interest,—instead of butchering one another, or wasting their precious lives and energies in scandals and political intrigues!
But let us return to earth again—to matter—the subject of chemistry!