336 On the Decomposition of 'Water ; 



diminish relatively to the one, without increasing itself on 

 account of this diminution relatively to the other, so each 

 of the two elements of such a molecule is solicited by a con- 

 stant force, which results from the attractive and the repul- 

 sive force *. 



The effect of the repulsion, although effectively existing* 

 is not sensible, on account of the reciprocal action of the 

 elementary molecules in contact, whence results a recom- 

 bination of such as are repelled by the Galvanic poles. 



XIX. Let us consider, however, a certain quantity of 

 water, composed of oxvgen, represented by the negative 

 sign ( — ), and of hydrogen marked by the positive sign ( + ). 

 See + fig. I. Plate IX. At the moment of establishing a 

 current of Galvanic electricity in this water, the electrical 

 polarity manifests itself among its elementary molecules in 

 such a manner, that the latter seem to constitute the com- 

 plement of the pile in action. At the same time all the 

 molecules of oxygen situated in the track of the current will 

 have a tendency to make their way towards the positive pole, 

 whereas all the molecules of hydrogen situated in the same 

 track will tend towards the negative pole. 



It thence results, that when the molecule of water repre- 

 sented by o.h, yields its oxygen o to the vitreous fluid of the 

 wire -' r , its hydrogen h is immediately reoxvgenated bv the 

 arrival of another molecule of oxygen o, the hydrogen of 

 which, h, is reeombined with r, and so on. The same 

 thing takes place, but in a contrary sense, relatively to the 

 molecule of water O, P, which, on yielding its hydrogen Q, 

 to the resinous fluid of the — wire, is immediately rehydro- 

 genated by the arrival of the molecule X; and this succes- 

 sion of decomposition and of recombination of the elements 

 of the water will continue until the latter is completely de- 

 composed. 



XX. It is clear that in the whole operation the molecules 

 of water, situated at the extremities of the conductor wires, 

 will alone be decomposed, whereas all those placed intcinie- 



* I suppose that each force lias the ame intensity; a circumstance which 

 ought actually to take place, since neither of the poles of the electrometer 

 apparatus can acquire electricity except at the expense of the other. 



7 diately 



