4(7 OX SOME CHEMICAL AGENCIES OF ELECTRICITY. 



F^ssn^o of va- solution of muriatic acid intermediate, and water .negative. 



nous substan- , , . . ' T . ° 



ces through at- ,n lne us ual arrangement, green oxide oi iron began to appear 



tract>ng che- j n about ttn hours upon the negative connecting amianthus, 



roical mixtures , . , •,,,-, 



by means of anc * ,n three days a considerable portion had been deposited in 



eJecncity. ^he tube. Analogous results were obtained with sulphate of 

 copper, nitrate of lead, and nitromuriate of tin. 



I made several experiments on the transition of alkaline 

 and acid matter through different neutrosaline solutions, and 

 the results were such as might well have been anticipated. 



When solution of muriate of barytes was negative, solution 

 of sulphate of potash intermediate, and pure water positive, 

 the power being from 150, sulphuric acid appeared in about 

 five minutes in the distilled water; and in two hours the muri- 

 atic acid was likewise very evident. When solution of sul- 

 phate of potash was positive, solution o( muriate of barytes 

 intermediate, and distilled water negative, the barytes ap- 

 peared in the water in a few minutes; the potash from the 

 more remote part of the chain was nearly an hour in accumu- 

 lating, so as to be sensible. 



When the solution of muriate of barvtes was positive, the 

 solution of sulphate of potash intermediate, and distilled water 

 negative, the potash soon appeared in the distilled water; a 

 copious precipitation of sulphate of barytes formed in the 

 middle vessel; but after ten hours no barytes had passed intq 

 the water. 



When solution of sulphate of silver was interposed between 

 solution of muriate of barytes on the negative side, and pure 

 water on the positive side, sulphuric acid alone passed into 

 the distilled water; and there was a copious precipitation in 

 the solution of sulphate of silver. This process was carried 

 on for ten hours. 



I tried several of these experiments of transition upon ve- 

 getable and animal substances with perfect success. 



The saline matter exposed in contact with the metal, and 

 that existing in the vegetable or animal substances, both un- 

 derwent decomposition and transfer; and the time of the ap- 

 pearance of the different products at the extremities of the 

 circuit was governed by the degree of their vicinity. 



Thus, when a fresh leaf stalk of the polyanthus, about 2 



i nches 



