142 
here. The most rational proceeding is to start from the case that 
heterogeneous equilibrium always prevails between the metal and 
the adjoining liquid layer, that th refore the electrochemical equi- 
librium always continues to exist. 
We can represent this by the following symbols: 
v,O05 ME Ms M$ -¥, Os 
VW U U U Wee. + 4) 
r, OL Mi Mr Mi r, Ós 
These equilibria, therefore, always exist. 
The equilibrium 
v,05 + M$EMS EMS 4+, Os 
U EAK OE 4 ON INA 
vy, On + MEM EME +v0r 
on the other hand only exists, when the unary metal and the elec- 
trolyte are in electromotive equilibrium. 
During the anodie polarisation, however, only the equilibria repre- 
sented by (34) exist, the homogeneous equilibria having been disturbed, 
but transformations take place which, when the current has been 
interrupted, will again reduce the metal to the unary state, and 
cause the original electromotive equilibrium to reappear. 
Only metals with different kinds of ions being considered, the 
slow establishing of the internal equilibrium 
Ny At Se ME en on oe EP Ue os AON 
has been given as the cause of the polarisation and the passivity in 
the preceding communications. 
This is perfectly correct, but we may add to this, that even if 
this equilibrium set in with great velocity, polarisation and passivity 
would oceur all the same when the following equilibria: 
Me Wier ce a. (SE 
and 
Ne WE ey eee (GE) 
set in slowly. 
Reversely it is immediately seen that when the internal equilibrium 
(36) does not set in by a direct way, but (37) and (88) set in rapidly , 
the equilibrium (36) wonld yet set in with great velocity, but now 
in an direct way. 
Hence it is clear that the real ground for the possibility of the 
occurrence of polarisation and passivity is the slow establishment of 
the internal equilibrium of the equations (387) resp. (38). 
