MORSE. — SOME MINUTE PHENOMENA OF ELECTROLYSIS. 373 



particles, which would not be visible at this magnification, but are 

 clumps each containing a great many individual grains. 



(4) While the above is occurring in the neighborhood of the anode 

 a thin cloud of totally different appearance may appear about the 

 kathode. The particles of this cloud are metallic in appearance, and 

 they later disappear suddenly and completely when the growth of 

 metallic silver begins at the front of the kathode. The kathode cloud 

 seems to be effected by external conditions in greater degree than that 



tl.iTlfi^ — 





Figure 2. Minute phenomena of electrolysis between silver electrodes. 



from the anode. It is a function of the separation of the electrodes 

 and the character of the kathode surface. 



(5) The above described effects appear in the purest obtainable 

 water and they are most evident in the best conductivity water, which 

 has been recently prepared in quartz vessels and kept carefully from 

 contact with air. 



Electrolytes in very small concentration prevent the effect completely 

 and cause the appearance of the usual gas bubbles at the anode and 

 kathode. The following brief table shows how a few electrolytes 

 behave in this respect. 



