84 Mr. Binks on the Laws of Action of Voltaic Electricity, 



which the elementary plates are in the proportions last observed 

 (in C), but in which the arrangements themselves are un- 

 equal. 



Three arrangements were employed. 



Table No. 13. 

 When separate. When joined. 



1st, lost zinc ... 5*0 grains. 



2nd, lost zinc ... 19*0 grains. 



3rd, lost zinc ... 40*0 grains. 



Total 64-0 



1st, lost zinc 13*1 grains. 

 2nd, lost zinc 13*2 grains. 

 3rd, lost zinc 132 grains. 



Total 39-5 



Showing a remarkable decrease in action (as has invariably 

 occurred) to follow the employment of voltaic arrangements 

 of unequal sizes when compared one with another in the same 

 series. 



I should wish it to be particularly remarked here, that in 

 this last experiment (D) and in the one preceding it (C) the 

 total surfaces of the metals in operation were exactly of the 

 same dimensions. 



The zinc plates in C measured each 7 square inchesl , . i 

 The copper plates do. do. 112 square inches J 



being multiplied by 3 (the number used) give zinc equal to 

 21 square inches, and copper equal to 336 square inches in 

 the whole. And in D the 1st arrangement was composed of 

 1 square inch zinc and 16 copper; the 2nd, of 4 square inches 

 zinc and 64 copper; the 3rd, of 16 square inches zinc and 

 256 copper, making a total, the same exactly as in C, 

 namely, of 21 square inches of zinc, and 336 square inches of 

 copper. And it has been shown that when these two sets of 

 arrangements were put in operation, the one (C) lost 86*6 grs., 

 and the other (D) lost only 39*5 grs. 



The conclusion to which these experiments obviously lead 

 is this; that there is no advantage to be gained by using the 

 elementary combinations of any voltaic battery of an unequal 

 size when compared with one another; but on the other hand, 

 that such a form of battery is remarkably defective when com- 

 pared with another, having an equal extent of metallic surface., 

 but in which the elementary couples are of uniform sizt 

 throughout the series. 



To verify the conclusion here advanced I prepared thret 

 small batteries, and tested their comparative efficacy by theii 

 power of decomposing water. 



Each battery consisted of a combination of six elementar) 

 couples, and the total surface of zinc in each battery was St 

 square inches and of copper 1008 square inches. 



