38 ON SOME CHEMICAL AGENCIES OF ELECTRICITY. 



trading chc- colours without affecting them, or apparently combining with 

 mical mixture* . r . i i ' .• c ■ \ i 



by means of them, it immediately became an object of inquiry, whether 



electricity. they would not likewise pass through chemical menstma, 

 having stronger attractions tor them; and it seemed reason- 

 able to suppose, that the same power, which destroyed elective 

 affinity in the vicinity of the metallic points, would likewise 

 destroy it, or suspend its operation, throughout the whole of 

 the circuit. 



An arrangement was made, of the same vessels and appa- 

 ratus employed in the experiment on the solution of muriate 

 of soda and sulphate of silver, vol. XVIII, p. 33S. Solution 

 of sulphate of potash was placed in contact with the negatively 

 electrified point, pure water was placed in contact with the 

 positively electrified point, and a weak solution of ammonia 

 was made the middle link of the conducting chain; so that no 

 sulphuric acid could pass to the positive pnint in the distilled 

 water, without passing through the solution of ammonia. 



The power of 150 was used: in less than five minutes it 

 was found, by means of litmus paper, that acid was collecting 

 round the positive point; in half an hour, the result was Suf- 

 ficiently distinct for accurate examination. 



The water was sour to the taste, and precipitated solution 

 of nitrate of barytes. 



Similar experiments were made with solution of lime, and 

 weak solutions of potash and soda, and the results were ana- 

 logous. With strong solutions of potash and soda a much 

 longer time was required for the exhibition of the acid ; but 

 even with the most saturated alkaline lixivium, it always ap- 

 peared in a certain period. 



Muriatic acid, from muriate of soda, and nitric acid from 

 nitrate of potash, were transmitted through concentrated al- 

 kaline menstrua, under similar circumstances. 



"When distilled water was placed in the negative part of the 

 circuit, and a solution of sulphuric, muriatic, or nitric acid, 

 in the middle, and any neutral salt with a base of lime, soda, 

 potash, ammonia, or magnesia, in the positive part, the alka- 

 line matter was transmitted through the acid matter to the 

 negative surface, with similar circumstances to those occcu- 

 ing during the passage of the acid through the alkaline men- 

 strua j 



