1375 
for so far as the scattering in alkalies is concerned, in the follow- 
in g 
During the electrolysis of a solution of sodium hydroxide with a 
lead cathode, an alloy is formed of the deposited sodium with the 
lead. This is decomposed by the water, under the formation of 
way. 
sodium hydroxide and hydrogen, in which the lead is left behind 
in finely divided state, and is distributed in the liquid by the 
escaping hydrogen. 
That it is possible that a metal as sodium, which is so much 
baser than hydrogen (the potential of equilibrium of sodium with 
regard to 1 n. NaOH is — 2.66 V, that of hydrogen — 0.81 V) is 
deposited in electrolysis instead of hydrogen, rests on this: 1. the 
potential at which hydrogen is generated with a somewhat consi- 
derable current density at a lead cathode is more than one Volt more 
negative than the potential of equilibrium, 2. the sodium, alloyed with 
lead, is much more positive than pure sodium. According to HaBER 
and Sack the potential of an alloy of lead with 4.5°/, sodium is 
only little less negative than that of lead in sodium hydroxide. 
With a sodium content of more than 8°/, the potential, however, 
becomes much more negative. In accordance with this lead-alloys 
synthetically prepared with less than 8°/, sodium react slowly with 
water, whereas alloys with more than 8°/, sodium quickly decom- 
pose water in which also the liberated lead scatters in the liquid. 
For the rest the scatterings have not been examined quantitatively. 
The purpose of this research was to fill up some of the existing 
gaps in our knowledge, in the first place with respect to the quantity 
of lead. which is scattered under different circumstances. The results 
obtained can be explained with the aid of Hapmr’s opinion, as will 
be further demonstrated. 
2. Mode of procedure. As it had to be ascertained in what 
way the quantity of scattered metal depends on the current density, 
it was necessary to arrange the cathode in such a way that it could 
easily be weighed before and after the experiment, and that it had 
an accurately defined surface. 
For this purpose a piece of ebonite was provided with an ebonite 
lid that could be screwed on. In the lid there was made a round 
hole of 1.90 em? with a bevelled edge. Through an opening in 
the ebonite passed a strong copper wire, to which a copper plate 
had been soldered. On this a plate of the cathode metal was put, 
and clasped by the serew lid. 
The copper wire was bent, so that the cathode plane was hori- 
