1 10 On soTiie Chemical Agencies of Electrlcilif* 



and acid matter through different neutrosaline solutions, ana 

 the results were such as mi^hl wt'l have been anlicipated. 



When sokition of muriate of baryles was negative, solu-* 

 lion of sulpliate of potash intermediate, and pure water po- 

 sitive, the power being from 150, sulphuric acid appeared 

 in' about five minutes in the disliiled water; and in twa 

 hdiu'S the muriatic acid was likewise very evident. When 

 solution of sulphate of potash was positive, solution of mu- 

 riate of barytes intermediate, and distilled water negative, 

 the barytes appeared in the water in a few minuted; the pot- 

 as^ from the more remote part of the chain was nearly art 

 hdur in accumulating, so as to be sensible. 



When the solution of muriate of barytes was positive, the 

 solution of sulphate of potash intermediate, and distilled 

 wgtcr negative, ihe potash soon appeared in the distilled 

 water ; a copious precipitation of sulphate of barytes formed 

 in the middle vessel ; but after ten hours no barytes had 

 passed into tl'.e water. 



When solution of sulphate of silver was interposed be- 

 tween solution of muriate of barytes on the negative side 

 and pure water on the positive side, sulphuric acid alone 

 passed into the distilled water; and there was a copious pre- 

 cipitation in the solution of sulphate of silver. This process 

 was carried on for ten hours. 



I tried several of these experiments of transition upon ve- 

 getable and animal substances with perfect success. 



The saline matter exposed in contact with the metal, and 

 that existing in the vegetable or animal substances, both 

 underwent decomposition and transfer ; and the time of the 

 appearance of the different products at the extremities of the 

 circuit was governed by the degree of their vicinity. 



Thus when a fresh leaf-stalk of the polyanthus, about two 

 inches long, was made to connect a positively electrified 

 tube containing solution of nitrate of strontites, and a ne- 

 gatively electrified tube containing pure water, the water 

 soon becaine green, and gave indications of alkaline pro- 

 perties, and free nitric acid was rapidly separated in the po- 

 sitive tube. After ten minutes the alkaline matter was exa- 

 mined 'f 



