[ 220 ] 



XXXI. The Bakerian Lecture, on some Chemical Jgevcies 

 of Electricity. By Humphry Daw, Esq. F. R. S. 

 M. R.I.A. 



[Concluded from p. 119.] ^ 



VIII. On the Relations lettveen the electrical Energies of 

 Bodies, and their Chemical Affinities. 



As the chemical attraction between two bodies seems to be 

 destroyed by giving one of them an electrical state different 

 from that which it naturally possesses ; that is, by bringing 

 it artificially into a state similar to the other, so it may be 

 increased by exalting its natural energy. Thus, whilst zinc, 

 one of the most oxidable of the metals, is incapable of 

 combining with oxygen when negatively electrified in the 

 circuit, even by a feeble power ; silver, one of the least oxi- 

 dable, easily unites to it when positively electrified ; and the 

 same thing might be said of other metals. 



Among the substances that combine chemically, all those, 

 the electrical energies of which are well known, exhibit op- 

 posite states ; thus, copper and zinc, gold and quicksilver, 

 sulphur and the metals, the acid and alkaline substances, 

 afford opposite instances; and supposing perfect freedom of 

 motion in their particles or elementary matter, they ought, 

 according to the principles laid down, to attract each other 

 in consequence of their electrical powers. In the present 

 state of our knowledge, it would be useless to attempt to 

 . speculate on the remote cause of the electrical energy, or 

 the reason why different bodies, after being brought into 

 contact, should be found differently electrified ; its relation 

 to chemical affinity is, however, sufficiently evident. May 

 it not be identical with it, and an essential property of 

 matter? 



The coated glass plates of Beccaria strongly adhere to 

 each other when oppositely charged, and retain their charges 

 on being separated. This fact affords a distinct analogy to 

 the subject ; different particles in combining must still be 

 supposed to preserve their peculiar slates of energy. 



In the present early stage of the investigation, it would 



be 



