Mr. J. Napier on Electrical Endosmose. 



19 



The result of these experiments, as well as those given be- 

 fore in detail, shows that there is no relation between the mea- 

 surable endosmose and the amount of decomposition in the 

 cells ; so that the two phaenomena must depend upon some- 

 what different causes, which now became an object of inquiry. 

 Professor Faraday in his researches, mentions that a current 

 of electricity meiy be made to pass through solutions without 

 decomposing them, and Mr. Sturgeon gives it as his opinion 

 that there is always an undecomposing current passing with a 

 decomposing current. These observations being applied to the 

 results of the present inquiry into measurable and unmeasu- 

 rable endosmose, seemed to throw some light upon the distinct 

 character of these phsenomena, for, as will be observed, the 

 measurable endosmose seems to be greatest when the current 

 has the greatest difficulty to pass through, and when the de- 

 composition is least; and on the contrary, the immeasurable 

 endosmose is greatest when the battery is powerful and the 

 current passing freely, or rather decomposition going on freely. 



In order to compare the two, I now tried a few experiments 

 with different powers of battery, under constant circumstances 

 as regards the decomposition cells. Each division of a decom- 

 position cell had put into it 100 grains of sulphate of copper 

 dissolved in 3 ounces of water; copper electrodes were used, 

 and the current allowed to pass until the negative solution was 

 exhausted of copper. The following is the mean of several 

 trials. 



With a 1-pair batterv the negative solution exhausted in 



C2 



