47 i On the Chemcal EfeBs of the Pile ^ Volta. 



VII. 



On the Chemical EffeEls of the Pile of Volta. By a Correfpondent. 



To Mr. NICHOLSON. 

 SIR, 



A Here is fomcthing fo fafcinating in the eafc with wliich the prefent fyftem of 

 chcmiftry can be applied to moll of the phenomena of nature and art, that I may fufFer 

 the derifion perhaps of many philofophers, if I even queftion its application in any. 

 However, as truth fhould be the obje£l of all who cultivate a knowledge of nature, I fhall 

 venture to mention a few circumftances. 



I have lately repeated mod of the experiments which have been made on the pile of 

 Volta, and have read with much attention the opinions which you have publiflied of your 

 own, and of fome of your learned correfpondents. 



When two wires of platina are ufed, and when they are placed-in water, two gafes are 

 produced, the one having the properties of oxygen, the other of hydrogen gas. Thefe 

 wires may be placed at very confiderable diftances from each other, and yet if they are in 

 the fame veflel of water, they produce thefe airs as fpeedily and in as great quantities as 

 when they are ever fo clofe to each other. 



Now, Sir, I wifli to know how it happens, according to any fyftem, that the two com- 

 ponent parts of water fliould be made to appear at fuch diftances from each other. Does 

 the hydrogen of the decompofed particle of water on the zinc fide of the pile, fly away 

 inftantly as the oxygen is produced on that fide, to the wire connedted with the filver ? If 

 it does, why do we not fee the bubbles in its paflage ? Or does the oxygen pafs from the 

 wire connefted with the filver to that connefted with the zinc ? Or are there two 

 currents. 



In the ordinary modes of reafoning on thefe fubjefts, we generally fuppofe that when 

 one of the component parts of a fubftance is feparated or is fixed, the other appears in- 

 ftantly in fome way or other, and clofe to it. If, for inftance, a bar of red-hot iron be 

 immerfed in water, the oxygen unites with the iron, and forms an oxide, and the hydro- 

 gen arifes immediately from it, wherever the oxygen becomes fixed. This feems perfeftly 

 well explained by the prefent theory of chemiftry. In the pile, if copper wires be fub- 

 ftituted for platina, one wire will be oxidated whilft the hydrogen arifes from the other at 

 a diftance. When the phofphuret of lime is dropped into water, the bubbles of phof- 

 phorated hydrogen appear clofe to it, as foon as the oxygen unites with the faid 

 phofphorus. This alfo appears to be well explained by the modern theory. If the par- 

 ticles of water be compofed of the two bafes of oxygen and hydrogen gas, and if one of 

 thofe particles be decompofed, and one of its principles appear, I contend that fome 

 4 account 



