to On some new Electrochemical Researches 



other in an apparatus in which glass, water, mercury, and 

 mires of platina only, were present. 



In the first series 1000 double plates were used, the two 

 cones were of platina, and contained about -pV of a cubical inch 

 each, and filaments of asbestos were employed, to connect 

 them together. In these trials, when the batteries were in 

 full action, the heat was so great, and the gases were dis- 

 engaged with so much rapidity, that more than half the 

 water was lost in the course of a few minutes. By using 

 a weaker charge, the process was carried on for some hours, 

 and in some cases for from two to three days. In no in- 

 stance, in which slowly distilled water was employed, and 

 in which the receiver was filled with pure oxygen from 

 oxymuriate of potash, was any acid or alkali exhibited in 

 the cones ; even when nitrogen was present, the indications 

 of the production of acid and alkaline matter were very- 

 feeble ; though, if the asbestus was touched with unwashed 

 hands, or the smallest particle of neutro-saline matter in- 

 troduced, there was an immediate separation of acid and 

 alkali, at the points of contact of the asbestus with the 

 platina, which could be made evident by the usual tests. 



In the second series of experiments, the oxygen and hy- 

 drogen produced from the water were collected under mer- 

 cury, and the two portions of water communicated directly 

 with each other. In several trials made in this way, with 

 a combination of 500 plates, and continued for some days, 

 it was always found that fixed alkali separated in the glass 

 negatively electrified ; and a minute quantity of acid, which 

 could barelv be made evident by litmus, in the glass posi- 

 tively electrified. This acid rendered cloudy nitrate of sil- 

 ver* Whether its presence was owing to impurities which 

 might rise in distillation with the mercury, or to muriatic 

 acid existing in the glaste, I cannot say ; but as common 

 salt perfectly dry is not decomposed by silex, it seems very 

 likely that muriatic acid in its arid state may exist in com- 

 bination in glass. 



I tried several experiments on the ignition and fusion of 

 platina by Voltaic electricity, in mixtures of the vapour of 

 water and oxygen gas. I thought it possible, if water could 

 be combined with more oayge7i 9 that this heat, the most 

 intense we are acquainted with, might produce the effect. 

 When the oxygen was mixed with nitrogen, nitrous acid 

 was formed ; but when it consisted of the last portions 

 from oxymuriate of potash, there was not the slightest in- 

 dication of such a result. 



Water in vapour was passed through oxide of man- 

 ganese, 



