LAWS OF GALVANISM. 245 



jircfs the radius of the circular bafc (riippofing hc^^a z), and Inveftlgatlon of 



r I . .. V . r L- in J . ,, ^the laws of de- 



conlequently a greater proportion of water lubjeaed to the compofition of 



influence; and therefore evidently when at d^ d, or infinitely water by gal- 

 near, the maximum of decompofing efre6ls muft take place. ^'*"' "^* 

 This we obferve is confonant to experiments. 



If a particle of water confifts of a particle of oxigen and of 

 bidrogen in a ftate of chemical union, and if an agent be em- 

 ployed fufhciently fubtle to penetrate the conftituent particle 

 of water, a feparation will take place. Thus caloric will de- 

 ftroy the aggregation of the conftiluent particles of many fub*- 

 fiances, without producing any decompotition; in this cafe it 

 only afls by penetrating the interftices formed by the confti- 

 tuent particles, without pervading the fubflance of the con- 

 ftituent particle itfelf. Thus the portions of water, although 

 participating of the refpeflive electrical intenfities of the two 

 wires, as yet undergo no decompofition ; as yet it has not 

 conip4eteIy pervaded the j)article of water. When a particle 

 of water is influenced on one fide by the pofitive wire, and 

 on its other fide by the negative, then the particle of water 

 becomes a fmall Leyden phial ; and if the energy of the ap- 

 paratus fliould be adequate to overcome the refiftance be- 

 tween the two fides of the particle of water, a feparation is 

 produced, and the water becomes refolved into oxigen and 

 bidrogen. 



This deftrudion of the water will take place at z, the ini- 

 termediate diftance between a, a; becaufe, when thus re* 

 molely fituated, only a fingle particle of water becomes thus 

 operated upon ; when at b, b, a greater number of particles 

 of water become thus influenced, and confequently the de- 

 compofition is more rapid. 



If water placed in a capillary fUbe be employed, it is evi- 

 dent, however near the platinum wires are approximated, 

 the areas of the bafes of the refpedive cones will be not at all 

 increafed, and, confequently, the maximum of its power will 

 be confined comparatively to a folitary particle of water. 

 The inftant a particle of water becomes thus feparated into 

 its elementary portions, it might be expe£led that thefe por- 

 tions would be evolved at i, as being the point of concourfe 

 between the pofitive and negative ftates ; but in this form 

 they are not in the gafeous ftate ; they require caloric, &c. ; 

 and ihat they do not very readily acquire this other principle 



neteflary 



