1904.] on Development of the Theory of Electrolj/tic Dissociation. 557 



take part in the transport of electricity. This part increases with 

 the dilution in the same proportion as the molecular conductivity Ic. 

 The limiting value k^ is apjn'oached at intinite dilution, and corre- 

 sponds to the limit that all molecules conduct electricity. The con- 

 ducting part of the molecules I called the active part. It may 

 evidently be calculated as the quotient k:1c^. 



If now this new conception were only applicable to the explana- 

 tion of the phenomena of electric conductivity, its value had not been 

 so very great. But an inspection of the numbers of Kohlrausch and 

 others for the conductivity of the acids and bases, compared with the 

 measurements of Berthelot and Thorasen on their relative strength 



KC\ 



NaCI 



N3N0, 



Li a ^ 



NdChfO 



100 



Fig. 5. 



Dilution 



with regard to their chemical effect, showed me that the best con- 

 ducting acids and bases are also the strongest. I was thereby led to 

 suppose that the electrically active molecules are also chemically 

 active. On the other hand the electrically inactive molecules are 

 also chemically inactive. In this connection I would mention the 

 remarkable experiments of Gore, which were easily explained by the 

 new manner of view. Concentrated hydrochloric acid, free from 

 water, has no action on oxides or carbonates. Now this hydrochloric 

 acid is almost incapable of conducting the electric current, whereas 

 its aqueous solutions conduct very well. The pure hydrochloric 

 acid contains, therefore, no (or extremely few) active molecules, and 



2 p 2 



