136 



Mr. C. Binks on Electricity, 



mand its greatest effects, of any kind, with the least expendi- 

 ture of materials. 



The process by which this ^nd is attempted to be reached, 

 is by first determining the laws of action affecting the opera- 

 tions of single arrangements ; and afterwards, when this is 

 completed, extending the examination into the phaenomena of 

 compound ones. 



74. These examinations are, in the first instance, restricted 

 to the phaenomena of arrangements in which sulphuric acid, 

 diluted, is employed as the exciting agent. It is then sought 

 to determine, by extending the inquiry into the less familiar 

 operations of other kinds of arrangement, such, for example, 

 as include the sulphate of copper as an element, whether the 

 same results can be obtained under these as under the former 

 conditions, or in what respects they differ ; the chief object 

 through all being the application of the principles, thus sought 

 to be established, to the construction of the battery. 



To determine the comparative amount of voltaic action in- 

 duced in any single arrangement by acid solutions of different 

 degrees of strength. 



75. The plates of the voltaic couple here used were of an 

 equal size, each presenting an entire surface of four square 

 inches to the action of the acid mixture ; they were separated 

 from one another by a distance of half an inch : this, as well 

 as every other attendant condition, being, of course, main- 

 tained exactly alike in every trial. The acid mixture was 

 composed, in the first instance, of one part by measure of 

 common sulphuric acid, and 100 parts of water; and after- 

 wards of larger proportions of acid, as shown in the sub- 

 joined table, in which the column of densities represents the 

 actual strength of the mixture with the greater nicety. The 

 amount of action in each case is estimated by the weight of 

 zinc lost in a given equal time. 



76. Table of the effects of acid mixtures of different de- 

 grees of strength. (No. 4.) 



