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LONDON, EDINBURGH and DUBLIN §i$kttl$\ 



PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE 



AND 



JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 



H 



[THIRD SERIES.] 



JANUARY 1816. 



I. The Influence of Magnetism on Molecular Arrangement. 

 By Robert Hunt, Keeper of Mining Records, Museum of 

 (Economic Geology. 



[With a Plate.] p" ■ 

 To Richard Phillips, Esq., F.R.S. 

 Dear Sir, 



AVING been engaged some time since in investigating 

 the influences of bodies on each other in the dark, the 

 results of which investigations were published under the title 

 of "Thermography," I then observed many peculiar effects 

 which led me to believe that magnetic electricity had some in- 

 fluence in determining the arrangements of molecules. From 

 that time until a few days since, the subject has rested with 

 me without any further research. Having however put the 

 subject to the test of experimental examination, I am induced, 

 the results being of great interest, to transmit to you an ac- 

 count of my experiments. In doing this, I shall, for the pre- 

 sent, confine myself strictly to a description of the arrange- 

 ments used and the results obtained, reserving any theoretical 

 views for some future period, when by a greater number and 

 variety of experiments it appears probable some general law 

 of action may be satisfactorily deduced. 



1. I placed a concentrated solution of nitrate of silver in a 

 test-tube, against the poles of a permanent horse-shoe magnet, 

 having another tube containing a similar solution not in con- 

 tact with it. The crystallization commenced first in the tube 

 connected with the magnet, immediately at the point opposite 

 the upper surface of the metal (Plate II. fig. 1) ; a large tabular 

 crystal shot off from this point towards the bottom of the 

 glass, dividing the lower portion of the fluid in two parts. 

 Other crystals sprung off from different points above and be- 



Phil. Mag. S. 3. Vol. 28. No. 184. Jan. 1846. B 



