209 
An Account of Researches in Electro- Chemistry. By Pro- 
fessor SCHOENBEIN, of Basle. 
Tue British Association for the Advancement of Science, at 
their last meeting in Birmingham, honoured me with the charge 
to undertake a series of experiments, with the view of extend- 
ing the limits of our knowledge on the connexion which is sup-~ 
posed to exist between electrical and chemical phzenomena. 
The memoir which I now take the liberty to lay before the 
Association contains an account of the results of my late inves- 
tigations, many of which may perhaps appear as not immedi- 
ately bearing upon the subject in question; but I think them, 
nevertheless, closely connected with it. I must, however, not 
omit to say, that my task is still very far from being accom- 
plished. 
It is familiarly known, that a peculiar odour, resembling that 
of phosphcrus, is developed whenever common electricity 
passes from metallic or any other conducting points into at- 
mospheric air; but I am not aware of having seen it anywhere 
_ Stated, that a similar odour is disengaged during the électro- 
lysis of water, though there can be no doubt that, besides my- 
self, more than one philosopher has observed that phenomenon. 
The complete ignorance in which we still remain of the true 
cause of the electrical smell, and of the appearance of the latter 
under circumstances apparently so different from each other, 
cannot fail to excite scientific curiosity to a high degree, and 
stimulate philosophers to employ all their experimental means 
and mental powers to clear up the mysterious phenomenon. 
My own endeavours to solve the problem have been manifold, 
and for a long time were fruitless ; at last, however, I sue- 
ceeded in ascertaining some facts which promise to throw light 
upon the subject in question. Respecting the disengagement of 
the electrical odour during the electrolysation of water, as well 
as during the passage of common electricity from points into 
atmospheric air, my researches have led ‘to the following 
results :— 
1. The peculiar smell makes its appearance as soon as the 
electrolysation of water begins, and continues to be perceived 
for some time after water has ceased to be decomposed. 
2. The phosphorus smell is produced at the positive elec- 
trode only, and under no circumstances whatsoever at the 
1840. P 
