BFPECT OP GA%VANl«|i in METALLIC ARBORIZATIONS. J^l 



given i^bQ^eiftitt, is impossible to. doubt, thut the eubaequ.ePt 

 inetttllic urborization is owing to an electrogalvaiiic polarity^ 

 whioli isj, estabjislied between the elementary particles of 

 tbe liqi'ifJ ^■oWP''>y*^d between the precipitant metal and the 

 ext,reqiitit;8, of that which is precipitated. The oxidation 

 |jk|»4.^yival manifest themselves in thjs proce?>« at a di^ance 

 q^e.PrJess considerable, accoiding to the progress of %}i^ 

 arborization ; while all th'e intermediate compoirtnt particles 

 of the liquid, in consequence of this polarity, undergo a 

 niu^ual exchange of their elementary principles* If it were whyth««lciN 

 required to render visible the poi^itive electricity of the pre- ttjcity does wot 

 cipitant metal, the extremity z' of which, fig. 7, "^ig^it be ^^^j^gj^^^^ **" 

 made to communicate with a sensible electrometer; it 

 should be remembered, that this is impossible, because the 

 met^l is immersed in the liauid, and the revival of that in 

 the solution is effected in Consequence of the galvanic circle 

 being then closed, so that it is in the state of a pile, the 

 two poles of whtch >communicat;e by rneans of a conducting 

 substance. The fine experiments of Volta show, that the 

 contact of two metals is sufficient, to excite a current of lo <>;.rtixl 

 €5i^ctricity ; - and} all^tjial ilJustrious philosopher <J«tnon-^^*'^''^y^'^J 

 titrated with plates is perfectly applicable in this case to the .•ns-' 



dementary particles of water. It is sufficient therefore, 

 for the complete solution of the two propositions in my first 

 i.fection, to conceive the idea of an electric. [)olarity esta- 

 bliiibed between these particles as often asthey are attraclfd 

 by polar electricity*.'* - ; r - ,rG - ■:■'.•■ 



, ,,:,ifft, IS^,-,: A^it-'qhol containing any t?i4ali^c Wt, a^ acfi- Alcoliolic so- 

 . twtftjfif v^^^*>'*«if»M#'^f'» powerfully pppe^es thevpreciprta- lutions ©f me- 

 . lion of the metal that i» held in solution, whether a piece of pjtared like 

 zinc be Jeft in it, or it be galvanized. This appears to me aqueous. 

 , 4« proRC, that the elelectric polarity manifests itself between 

 the component particles of the tt?rt/er, ind not of tlieoar/c/^, __ 



4S I was myself inclined to think some time ago. At prei!*s<f>n« *«»a Iw* 

 sent I am of opinion, that the precipitant metal acquires ' ' ■ -^ 

 the positive state by contact with the oxigen of the water, 

 aod that it attracts this oxigen f^om bei,ng Ih ^h| oj^Cteite 



• This expression appears to me well adapted to designate paTvanU 



