708 



In this connection it niaj be pointed out that explosive antinwm/ 

 is probably a metal phase which is far removed from the stale of 

 internal equilibi-inm, and in which the internal transfoiinations are 

 impeded by the dissolved antimony-chloride. 



7. In connection with the foregoing it is desirable to draw attention 

 to this that according to these considerations the contact tnltli the 

 solution of a salt of the metal must liave an accdleratin/j injiuence on 

 the setting in of the internal equilibrium of the metal. 



In general we shall namely be no doubt justified in assnming 

 that the internal metal-ion equilibrium establishes itself pretty rapidly 

 in the electrolyte at the ordinary tem[)erature and pressure, whei-eas 

 under the same circumstances the metal probably will not get in 

 equilibrium or exceedingly slowly, if we imagine the case that at 

 the ordinary tem])erature and i)i'essure a metal is immersed into the 

 solution of a salt of this metal, then, assuming the same case as 

 represented in figure 1, the metal will contain too many molecules >lf 

 or too many molecules .1/,. The electrolyte, which indeed is 

 thought to be in internal equilibrium cannot be in electromotive 

 equilibrium with this metal, and the consequence of this is that both the 

 electrolyte and the metal will tend to reach this electromotive equi- 

 librium. Put that the mstal contains too many JA molecules, then 

 M^'-- ions will deposit from the electrolyte on (he metal, and M 

 molecules will be sent as ions in solution by the metal. In the 

 electrolyte the ion concentration no\v remains constant in consequence 

 of internal transformations, but the concentration in the surface of 

 the metal changes in such a way that it finally agrees with the 

 internal equilibrium. So the surface of the metal has reached inte^-nal 

 equilibrium by means of the electrolj'te, and now the possibility is 

 given that also the layers that lie deeper will assume intei-nal 

 equilibrium by self-grafting. 



If the temperature is that of the trajisition point, (he electrolyte 

 lies exactly in c (Fig. 1) with internal equilibrium, and above this 

 temperature on the line ac. At the point of transition the electrolyte 

 will greatly promote the internal equilibrium both in the metal 

 phase e, and in the metal phase <l for the Just-meniioned reasons. 



8. In conclusion I will direct attention to another circumstance 

 which ma}' be expected with great probability on the ground ot 

 the considerations of the theory of allotropy. 



If for the sake of simplicity we retain (he case of a metal con- 



