. Cliemico-Galvanic Observations. 6i 



§ H- 



"Muriatic Acid is not obtained with all the Metals from pure 



Water positively galvanized. 



The author, proceeding in a course of experiments upon, 

 the reciprocal effects of water and of various metals when 

 submitted together to the Galvanic action, began with silver. 

 He placed two thick wires of this metal, as fine as he could 

 procure it, in two separate tubes filled with distilled water, 

 closed at bottom with parchment, and supported together 

 against the side of a drinking-glass,' at the bottom of which 

 water completed the circuit. The wires approached two 

 opposite poles of a pile of two columns, which communi- 

 cated together by means of a stripe of metal. After being 

 galvanized some hours, the surprise of the author was very- 

 great upon finding the water of the positive tube not at all 

 acidulated, as it was when gold or platina wires were em- 

 ployed, but very decidedly alkaline. The experiment was 

 often repeated with silver wires still finer, and always with 

 the same result. 



Upon plunging, during a whole night, two silver wires 

 coming from the two poles of the pile in the same vessel 

 full of water, at the distance of some lines from each other, 

 alkalized water was likewise obtained. 



Copper wires in separate tubes filled with water, yielded 

 by the Galvanic action (continued for 12 hours) a good deal 

 of hydrogen gas on the side of the negative pole. On the 

 other side, no gas nor any sign of oxidation was obtained. 

 The water in the two tubes was alkalized. Antimony pro- 

 duced the same effects. 



Among the metals employed by the author as agents in 

 these Galvanic decompositions, tin and zinc evinced them- 

 selves the most energetic in rendering the water alkaline on 

 the side of the negative pole, where, at the same time, a 

 good deal of hydrogen gas was liberated. It was only after a. 

 very long time that signs of alkalinity were observed on the 

 »f the positive pole. 



o straight stripes of tin, which communicated by one- 

 . their extremities with the two poles of the pile, 



w bile 



