316 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 



with P^ the negative side of the former will he in connexion with 



the positive side of the latter, and the opposite states of the two 



particles will mutually neutralize each other. But at the same moment 



in which the equilihrium takes place in these particles, it takes place 



between each two contiguous particles throughout the whole circuit ; 



consequently between the positive side of a particle of zinc in contact 



with the water and the negative oxygen particle of a molecule of 



water in contact with the zinc. Likewise the electro-negative state 



of a particle of platinum is in equilibrium with the positive state of 



the oxygen particle of the water molecule with which it is in contact. 



" The electrical equilibrium which now takes place between each 



metallic particle and each component of a molecule of water is not 



possible without a decomposition of the latter, and this very act of 



equilibrium must be considered as the true and ultimate cause of the 



electrical decomposition of water." 



******** 



" Evidently, according to this view, the actual combination of the ox- 

 ygen with the zincof thebattery is regarded as only a secondary action of 

 the current or the act of electrical equilibrium, and not as the cause or 

 source of the current itself. The chemical combination of the mole- 

 cules of oxygen and zinc being completed, and a substance being in 

 the water which can remove the oxide of zinc from its place of forma- 

 tion, a new particle of zinc will come in contact with a molecule of 

 water, and the latter, with all the particles of oxygen lying between 

 the zinc and platinum, will be electrically polarized anew. By keep- 

 ing the circuit closed, a neutralization of the electrical opposition will 

 take place between each two contiguous particles of the voltaic bat- 

 tery, and the decomposition of new molecules of water follows ; and 

 thus proceeds polarizing and depolarizing, circulation and electrolysis, 

 until the necessary conditions cease to be fulfilled. 



"Suppose now that water is placed between two metals which 

 manifest an exactly equal attraction for oxygen ; it is evident that it 

 will be drawn with equal force, under these circumstances, in opposite 

 directions : hence the effects upon the particles of water by the metals 

 must be mutually destroyed ; the components of these molecules will 

 not be polarized ; and in closing such a circuit, neither circulation nor 

 electrolytic action can take place. 



But if the water be placed between two metals, one of which has 

 greater affinity for oxygen than the other, the chemical equilibrium 

 existing between the components of each molecule of water will bw 

 destroyed, and in proportion to the difference of oxidability of tlie 

 metals used. 



Since the destruction of the chemical equilibrium between the com- 

 ponents of the particles of water also involves the destruction of 

 electrical equilibrium, and the latter is as much more considerable as 

 the former is greater, it follows, that the degree of electrical polariza- 

 tion of the molecules of water between metals must be proportional 

 to the difference of oxidability of the said metals ; or, to express the 

 flame thing differently: the magnitude of the electrical tension which 

 the parts of an open circuit have for each other, is measured by the 



