SUBSTITUTE for EQUIVALENT WEIGHT CHARLES N. OTT Central Teachers' College, Edmond, Oklahoma
I
N OUR explanation of the meaning of the term
"equivalent weight" to classes in beginning chemistry we have found i t helpful to separate the word "equivalent" into two parts, making it "equi-valent," and indicating thereby that such weights of elements or compounds have equal combining power. We commonly instruct students that equivalent weight may be readily calculated by dividing the molecular
or atomic weight of the molecule or atom by the active valence. It follows from this that a convenient and readily understandable substitute for "equivalent weight" is "uni-valeut weight," i. e., that weight of an element or compound which might be considered to have a valence of one. We are interested to know what other teachers and the writers of textbooks think of the idea.
