270 THE POTASSIUM 



tinued some time (decreasingly) after the platina 

 plate was disconnected — the electric energy of the 

 Potassium still inducing current. 



Experiment 2. — With sulphate of copper solu- 

 tion, the next very small piece of Potassium gave 

 only 10° of deflection, and 5° during decompo- 

 sition, which was tolerably rapid. Afterwards, 

 a deflection of 50° in another experiment, which 

 fell to 5° in decomposition. 



Experiment 3. — With dilute acid only, galva- 

 nometer 55°, but during decomposition^ which 

 was very faint, only 2^°. 



Experiment 4. — In neither case could decom- 

 position he effected in a second decomposing cell. 



Experiment 5. — With a copper plate instead 

 of platina, a deflection from 45° to 50° fell during 

 decomposition, which was not powerful, to 5°. 

 Decomposition could not be effected in two cells. 



There is a peculiar property of electricity, 

 exhibited in all its various modifications which 

 is considered by the author as the distinguishing 

 quality of electric force. It is first perceived in 



