Mr. J. Goodman on a new and practical Voltaic Battery. 209 



formed the decomposition apparatus. The decomposition by 

 this single pair was beautiful and energetic ; and what was 

 remarkable, continued some time (decreasingly) after the pla- 

 tina plate was disconnected, the electric energy of the potas- 

 sium still inducing current. 



Exp. 2. With sulphate of copper solution, the next very 

 small piece of potassium gave only 10° of deflection, and 5° 

 during decomposition, which was tolerably rapid. Afterwards 

 a deflection of 50° in another experiment, which fell to 5° in 

 decomposition. 



Exp. 3. With dilute acid only, galvanometer 5.5°; but 

 during decomposition, which was very faint, only 2i°. 



Exp. 4*. In neither case could decomposition be effected in a 

 second decomposing cell. 



Exp. 5. With a copper plate instead of platina, a deflection 

 from 45° to 50° fell during decomposition, which was not 

 powerful, to 5°. Decomposition could not be effected in two 

 cells. 



There is a peculiar property of electricity, exhibited in all 

 its various modifications, which is considered by the author as 

 the distinguishing quality of electric force. It is first perceived 

 in the tendency of all substances exposed to the action of elec- 

 tric force, to assume what is termed a polar condition. It has 

 been shown by Dr. Faraday to exist in the molecules of the 

 various substances which are interposed between the decom- 

 posing poles, or electrodes of a voltaic arrangement. The 

 author suggests that it is this polar condition which causes, 

 by the simple law of attraction and repulsion, the elements of 

 any fluid under decomposition to progress towards, and ulti- 

 mately to be deposited upon, or chemically combined with, 

 that pole of the apparatus to which they severally belong, by 

 a law as certain as the force of gravitation itself*. 



This quality of electric force does not depend upon the quan- 

 tity of jluid existing in a circuit ; for the ordinary electricity 

 manifests it in a much higher degree than does voltaic fluid, 

 although the latter is found at all times incomparably greater 

 in quantity. The author of this paper has frequently decom- 

 posed water in four successive cells, by the current from a 

 single electrical machine; and yet to effect decomposition in 

 one cell by voltaic power, several pairs are required. 



It is found that this state of polarization is at all times ac- 

 companied by other characteristics in proportion to its inten- 



* As conduction destroys polarity, this polar condition could have no 

 existence if the battery-current were conducted by the electrolyte, as sug- 

 gested by Dr. Faraday, and upon which basis the whole of his electric no- 

 menclature is founded. (See experiments 46, 48 and 49.) 



