We analyze the role and influence of a tradition of research linked to the concept of rdquoprimary matterrdquo in nineteenth-century studies on the nature of the elements.The suggestion of William Prout (1785-1850) in 1816 that the atomic weights of pure chemical elements are whole numbers and multiples of the atomic weight of hydrogen, taken as unity, was met with serious confutations,which in turn prompted several attempts to save Proutrsquos hypothesis.We discuss these attempts in detail and the objections raised against them, for instance by Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev (1834-1907). We pay particular attention to the use of spectroscopy as a method for proving the existence of elementary forms of matter inside atoms. Leaders in this field of research were two English scientists, the astrophysicist Norman Lockyer (1836-1920) and the chemist William Crookes (1832- 1919). Both of their approaches involved the idea of primary matter. However, while Crookesrsquos approach proved to be incorrect, Lockyerrsquos ideas survived for several years and supported the discovery of the electron by J.J.Thomson (1856-1940). Spectroscopy - enhanced lines - chemical fractionation - meta-elements - primary matter - proto-elements - protyle - William Prout - Proutrsquos hypothesis - Dmitry Mendeleev - Norman Lockyer - William Crookes
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