Engels, therefore, looks in more detail at the reference given by Marx.
“What is referred to here is the homologous series of carbon compounds, a great many of which are already known and each of which has its own algebraic formula of composition. If, for example, as is done in chemistry, we denote an atom of carbon by C, an atom of hydrogen by H, an atom of oxygen by O, and the number of atoms of carbon contained in each compound by n, the molecular formulas for some of these series can be expressed as follows:
Engels' point, here, is that, within these series, the composition of the compounds increases proportionally. First, one carbon atom and 2 hydrogen atoms, then, two carbon atoms with four hydrogen atoms, and so on, i.e. always twice as many hydrogen as carbon atoms. He sets out the series for the monobasic fatty acids.
“Here therefore we have a whole series of qualitatively different bodies, formed by the simple quantitative addition of elements, and in fact always in the same proportion. This is most clearly evident in cases where the quantity of all the elements of the compound changes in the same proportion. Thus, in the normal paraffins CnH2n+2, the lowest is methane, CH4, a gas; the highest known, hexadecane, C16H34, is a solid body forming colourless crystals which melts at 21° and boils only at 278°. Each new member of both series comes into existence through the addition of CH2, one atom of carbon and two atoms of hydrogen, to the molecular formula of the preceding member, and this quantitative change in the molecular formula produces a qualitatively different body at each step.” (p 162)
Similar examples can be found throughout chemistry. Engels gives another unrelated example, as provided by the science of warfare by Napoleon. According to Napoleon, the best individual cavalrymen were those of the Mamelukes. However, they lacked the discipline of the French cavalry, so that, at a certain point, this discipline of the latter, became a more significant factor than the individual prowess of the horseman.
“Two Mamelukes were undoubtedly more than a match for three Frenchmen; 100 Mamelukes were equal to 100 Frenchmen; 300 Frenchmen could generally beat 300 Mamelukes, and 1,000 Frenchmen invariably defeated 1,500 Mamelukes.” (p 163)
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