ly Means of Galvanic "Electricity. 335 



if the two products of the two Galvanic poles come from 

 one and the same molecule of water, or rather from two dif- 

 ferent molecules; and in the latter case we may ask what 

 becomes of the. hydrogen at the place where oxygen only is 

 perceived? and in return, what becomes of the oxygen where 

 hydrogen only is perceived ? 



XVI. The column of Volta, which will immortalize his 

 name, is an electrical magnet, everv element of which (i. e. 

 each pair of disks) possesses its negative and positive pole. 

 The consideration of this polarity suggested to me the idea 

 that it might establish a similar polarity among the ele- 

 mentary molecules of the water solicited by the same elec- 

 trical agent ; and I confess that this afforded me a spark of 

 light on the subject. 



XVII. Let us suppose, therefore, that at the moment of 

 the generation of the hydrogen and the oxygen, there takes 

 place in these two bodies, as well by contact as by the fric- 

 tion of the one against the other, a separation of their na- 

 tural electricity in such a manner that the former acquires 

 the positive and the latter the negative state ; it follows, 

 that the pole from which the resinous electricity continually 

 flows will attract the hydrogen by rejecting the oxygen, 

 whereas the pole animated with the vitreous electricity will 

 attract the oxvgen by rejecting the hydrogen *. Thus, when 

 the Galvanic current traverses a quantity of water, each of 

 the two component principles of the latter is solicited by an 

 attractive force and by a repulsive force, of which the cen- 

 tres of action are reciprocally opposite, and which, by acting 

 in the same manner, determines the decomposition of this 

 liquid. 



XVIII. The action of each force, in respect to a molecule 

 of water situated in the direction of the Galvanic current, is 

 in the inverse ratio of the square of the distance to which it 

 exercises its influence. Rut as the distance of any given 

 molecule placed between the two centres of action can never 



• Considering the diversity of sub^anccs deposited at the negative pole, 

 it would be more simple, and perhaps more just, to admit only an attractive 

 and repulsive force acting upon the oxygen, without attributing it to the pole* 

 ia relation to the hydrogen. 



diminish 



