On some Chemical Jgenctes of EhctricUy . l05 



them with purified water, made the platina wire in the cup 

 of sulphate of Hme transmit the electricity from a power of 

 100: a wire in the agate cup received it. In about four 

 hours a strong solution of lime was found in the agate cup, 

 and sulphuric acid in the cup of sulphate of lime. By re- 

 versing the order, and carrying on the process for a similar 

 tinje, the sulphuric acid appeared in the agate cup, and the 

 solution of lime on the opposite side. 



Many trials were made with other saline substances, with 

 analogous results. When the compounds of the strong mi- 

 neral acids with alkaline or alkaline-earthy bases were intro- 

 duced into one tube of glass, distilled water connected by 

 amianthus being in another tube, both connected by wires 

 of jilatina in the Voltaic arrangement, the base al.vays passed 

 into the distilled water when it was negative, and the acid 

 when It was positive. 



Tne metals and the metallic oxides passed towards the 

 negative surface like the alkalies, and collected round it. 

 In a case in which solution of nitrate of silver was used on 

 the positive side, and distilled water on the negative, silver 

 appeared on the whole of the trasmitting amianthus, so as 

 to cover it with a thin metallic film. 



The time required fur these transmissions (the quantity 

 and intensity of the electricity, and other circumstances, re- 

 maining the same) seemed to be in some proportion as the 

 Icnsrth of the intermediate volume of water. Thus, when 

 with the power of tOO, sulphate of potash was on the ne- 

 gative side, and distilled water on the positive side, the di- 

 stance between the wires being only an inch, sulphuric acjd, 

 in sufficient quantity to be very manifest, was found in the 

 water in less than five minutes ; but when the tubes were 

 connected by an intermediate vessel of pure water, so as to 

 make the circuit 8 inches, 14 hours were required to pro- 

 duce the same eft'cct. 



To ascertain whether the contact of the saline solution 

 with a metallic surface was necessary lor the decomposition 

 and transfer, I introduced purified water into two glass 

 lubes ; a vessel containing solution of muriate of potash was 

 copnecled with them respectively by amianthus; and the 



arrangement 



