t 



43N SOME CHEMICAL AGENCIES OF ELECTRICITY. -337 



a^ialogous results. When the compounds of the strong Transference of 

 tniueral acids with alkaline or alkaline-earthy bases were J^ent pa^ns of' 

 introduced^ into one tube of glass, distilled water connected bodies by «lec- 

 hy amianthus being in another tube, both connected by ^"^''^" 

 wires of platina in the Voltaic arrangement, the base al- 

 ways passed into the distilled water when it was negative, 

 and the acid when it was positive. 



The metals and the metallic oxides passed towards the 

 noi^ative surface like the alkalies, and collected round it. 

 in a Case in which solution of nitrate of silver was used on 

 the positive side, and distilled water on the negative, silver 

 appeared on the whole of the transmitting amianthus, so 

 as to cover it with a thin metallic film. 



The time required for these transmissions (the quantity 

 and intensity of the electricity, and other circumstances 

 remaining the same) seemed to be in some proportion as the 

 length of the intermediate volume of water. Thus when, 

 with the power of 100, suiphate of potash was on the ne- 

 gative side, 9,nd distilled water on the positive side, the dis- 

 tance between the wires being only an inch, sulphuric acid, 

 in sufficient quantity to be very manifies.t, was foumi in the 

 water in less than five minutes: but wheit^ the tubes were 

 connected by an intermediate vessel of pui^ water, so as to 

 make the circuit eight inches, 14 hours were re^qijired to 

 produce the same effect. 



To ascertain whether the contact of the saline solution 

 with a metallic surface w^s necessary for the decomposition 

 and transfer, I introduced purified wg-ter into two glass 

 tubes; a vessel containing solution of muriate of potash 

 was connected with them respectively by amianthus ; and 

 the arrangement was made in such a way, that the level pf 

 both the portions of purified water was higl^er than t^e 

 level of uid saline sohition. 



In this case, the saline matter was distant from each of 

 tlie wires at least |- of an inch ; yet alkaline matter soon ap.- 

 pciired in one tube, and acid matter in the other : and in 

 16 hours moderatelj strong solutions of potash, and of 

 juuriatic acid hgid been formed. 



In this case of electrical transfer or attraction, the acid 

 ,-dAu\ alkaline matter seemed to be perfectly pure; and I am 



Vol, XVIII.— Suppj^^ewknt. Z incline^ 



