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



sity. It is observable, that the higher the polar condition, 

 the greater are its powers of transmission, or conduction, 

 through various known aeriform media, liquids and solid 

 bodies. And when at its maximum, as seen in ordinary elec- 

 tricity and lightning, it is found to be accompanied by, and 

 capable of inducing attraction and repulsion of whole sub- 

 stances of a light nature, as gold-leaf, pith-balls, &c. The 

 power of chemical combination and decomposition appears to 

 be also dependent upon this quality, or polar condition of 

 bodies. 



Mr. Gassiot has shown that deflection of gold-leaf may be 

 produced or developed by chemical substances possessing the 

 lowest chemical powers in voltaic arrangements, if a sufficient 

 number of well-insulated pairs only be employed, which he has 

 also beautifully illustrated by a water battery of 3500 pairs. 

 So it is shown by the following experiments, that a chemical 

 substance of the highest powers of affinity will develope, by a 

 very few pairs, the same phenomena. 



An attempt was now made to construct twelve pairs of plates 

 of the description aforementioned. By means of glass pillars 

 and an appropriate framework of wood, each pair was kept 

 insulated from the other, and twelve wine-glasses formed the 

 jars for this beautiful little battery. The whole being com- 

 pleted, an attempt was made to produce the deflection of gold- 

 leaf. A micrometer-screw was arranged so as to cause a 

 copper disc to recede or approach the lower extremity of a 

 suspended slip of gold-leaf, and on connecting the poles of 

 the battery with the same, a deflection was readily produced 

 of above one-tenth of an inch with twelve pairs. The solution 

 of sulphate of copper was here employed unacidulated. 



I believe Mr. Grove has succeeded in affecting gold leaves 

 by a small number of pairs of his gas battery; and I am not 

 yet aware how small a number of my arrangement will pro- 

 duce sensible action upon the electroscope, but shall shortly 

 attempt this inquiry, when time permits*. 



These experiments with potassium tend to show, that there 

 is a very intimate relation (if not a complete analogy) between 

 electrical and chemical phaenomena, as shown by Sir H. Davy. 

 For the substance which possesses the highest chemical affinity 

 is here shown to manifest also the most exalted electrical energy 

 or tension, and vice versa ; and this electrical energy is at all 



* Since this paper was read, the author has attempted the deflection of 

 gold-leaf by six pairs, and succeeded very satisfactorily. Five pairs, four, 

 three, and two were tried, and a measured deflection took place in each 

 instance ; and ultimately one pair alone produced a sensible and measured 

 deflection. 



