philosophy of nature-第12章
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particularity become fluid and capable of maintaining a determinate difference towards each other。
§ 252。
The middle term； through which the concept with its reality unites these solid differences as the
unity of both terms and the essence of each in itself； — posits the difference of one with the
difference of the other into a unity； and therefore becomes real as the totality of their concept — is
initially opposed to the immediate solidity of the extremes as an abstract neutrality； the element of
water。 The process itself is the decomposition of water into opposed moments through the
presupposed difference of the extremes； they thereby suspend their abstraction and complete
themselves as the unity of their concept。
§ 253。
The moments into which water decomposes or； what amounts to the same thing； the forms under
which it is posited； are abstract； because water itself is only a physical element and not an
individual physical body； — the chemical elements of the antithesis are oxygen and hydrogen。 The
metals； however； which have been integrated in the process； also receive only an abstract
integration from that abstract middle term； a reality which is only a positing of their difference； an
oxide。
The condition of lime as an oxide lies closest to the condition of metals； due to the inner
indifference of their solid nature。 But nature's inability to hold on to the specific concept also allows
individual metals to change so far in the opposite direction that their oxide immediately comes to
resemble acids。 It is well known that chemistry can portray； as amalgamations at least； the metallic
components of lime and potash； but also ammonia； strontium； barytes； and indeed； even of
different soils； and thereby depict these bodies as oxides。 To be sure； the chemical elements are
such abstractions that when they are in the form of gases； in which they become manifest for
themselves； they interpenetrate like light and； notwithstanding their ponderability； their materiality
and impenetrability reveal themselves here to be raised to immateriality。 Furthermore； oxygen and
hydrogen have a determination so dependent upon the individuality of the body that the
components of oxygen are determined in oxides； as a base in general； and； in the opposite
direction； as an acid； just as； by contrast； the acidic determination in hydrochloric acid reveals itself
as hydrogenation。
§ 254。
In contrast to the solid indifference of the particular corporeality stands physical brittleness； the
being of particularity grasped together in the unity of selfhood （brass represents the totality； as the
unification of sulphur and metal）。 This brittleness is the real possibility of combustion； the reality of
which is itself the self…devouring being for itself fire； and remains an external entity。 Fire mediates
the inner difference of the combustible body through the physical element of abstract negativity；
air； with a being as posited or reality； and enhances it to acidity。 Air； however； decomposes in its
negative principle into this； oxygen； and a dead positive residuum； nitrogen。
§ 255。
The chemical elements are： nitrogen； the abstraction of indifference； oxygen； the element of
self…subsistent difference； the burning element； hydrogen； the element belonging to the opposition
or self…subsistent indifference； the combustible element； and carbon； as the abstraction of their
individual element。
§ 256。
（2） The two products of the abstract processes； acids and bases or alkalis； are now no longer
merely but actually diverse； and （concentrated acids and alkalis enhanced caustically） are therefore
incapable of subsisting for themselves。 In a state of restlessness they suspend themselves； and are
posited as identical to their opposites。 This unity； in which their concept is realised； is the neutral
body； salt。
§ 257。
（3） In salt the concrete and shaped body is the product of its process。 The relation of such diverse
bodies to each other involves to some extent the more precise particularisation of the bodies； from
which 〃elective affinities〃 derive。 In general； however； these processes are for themselves more
real； since the extremes occurring in them are not abstract bodies。 More specifically； they are the
dissolved particles of the neutral bodies into abstractions； the processes from which they are
produced； retrogressions back to oxides and acids； and further； both immediately and in abstract
forms； back to the indifferent bases； which manifest themselves in this way as products。
Empirical chemistry deals mainly with the particularity of the products； which are then ordered
according to superficial and abstract determinations。 Metals； oxygen nitrogen and many other
bodies； earth； sulphur； phosphorous appear in this order together； just as chaotically； the more
abstract and the more real processes are posited on the same level。 If a scientific form is to come
from this mixture； then each product should be determined according to the level of the process
from which it results and which gives it its particular significance。 It is just as essential to distinguish
the levels of the abstraction or the reality of the process。 Animal and vegetable substances belong
in any case to an entirely different order； and so little of their nature can be comprehended through
the description of the chemical process that much more is destroyed than saved； and only the
course of its death is grasped。 These substances； however； should serve to work against that
metaphysics dominant in both chemistry and physics； namely； the thought or empty idea of the
unchangeability of matter； its composition and subsistence in matter。 We see admitted in general；
however； that chemical substances lose those attributes in combination which they demonstrate
separately。 Nevertheless the idea remains that these substances are the same things with the
attributes as without； and as things with these attributes they are not only products of the process。
An important step towards simplification of the particularities in the elective affinities is the law
discovered by Richter and Guiton Morveau； which states that neutral compounds suffer no change
regarding their state of solution when they are mixed in solution and the acids exchange bases with
each other。 The quantitative scale of acids and alkalis has been constructed on the basis of this
law； according to which each individual acid has a particular relation for its saturation to each
alkali； so that； however； for every other acid whose quantitative unity is only different from the
others； now the alkalis have among each other the same relation to their saturation as to the other
acids； and similarly； acids display a constant relation among each other and relative to all the
different alkali。
Since； moreover； the chemical process has its determination in the concept； the empirical
conditions of a particular form； as for example electricity； are not as fixed as sensory
determinations and not as abstract moments as is represented for example by an elective affinity。
Berthollet； in his famous work Statique chimique； has brought together and investigated the
circumstances which produce changes in the results of chemical action； results often attributed only
to the conditions of the affinity； which are taken as constant and fixedly determined laws。 He says：
〃The superficiality which these explanations bring into science is prominently regarded as
progress。〃
§ 258。
The chemical process is； to be sure； in general terms； life； for the individual body in its immediacy
is suspended and brought forth by the process； so that the concept no longer remains an inner
necessity； but becomes manifest。 But the body also achieves a mere appearance； and not
objectivity。 This process is finite and transient； because the individual body has immediate
individuality； and therefore a limited particularity； so that th
