Water . . . shows tendencies both to add and give up hydrogen, which are nearly balanced. Then . . . a free pair of electrons on one water molecule might be able to exert sufficient force on a hydrogen held by a pair of electrons on another water molecule to bind the two molecules together. . . . Indeed the liquid may be made up of large aggregates of molecules, continually breaking up and reforming under the influence of thermal agitation. Such an explanation amounts to saying that the hydrogen nucleus held between 2 octets constitutes a weak "bond." by * W. M. LATIMER and W. H. RODEBUSH Universityof Caltfornia, Berkelty, J.Am.Chem.Soc. 42,1419-33(1920).