334 Outlines of a Flew of Galvamjm. 



by pieces of moillened clolh, paffing over the nonconduAing 

 plates *. 



§ 3. The fiibftances nioft aftive hi the fingle circles are 

 Jikcwifc mod acUve in the compound circles. And in all 

 caics, the relative quantities of galvanic power, exhibited by 

 cqnal numbers of diftereiit fevics, arc, in fonie meafure, pro- 

 portional to the intcnlity of the peculiar primary chemical 

 agencies, exerted by the diflerent conduclors compofing 

 tliem, on each other f. 



Thus, in the battery with zinc and filvcr, there is little 

 or no action produced, when the conneAing Hiiid is pure 

 water, or water holding in folutiou hydrogen gas, which is 

 incapable of acling on the metals f. The aAiou is greater 

 with water faturated with oxygen J than with water faturated 

 with atniofphcrio air ; and it is mofl: intenfe when folutiou 

 of red fulphate of iron, or of nitric acid, is emploved. 



'l"he tables of the fingle circles will indicate, with the nc- 

 cefiary change of arrangement, the relative powers of the 

 feries forming compound circles. 



§ 4. Provided thofe places of contaft in the compound 

 circle, in which the peculiar chemical changes are produced, 

 remain permanent, the parts of the feries wliich do not im- 

 mediately a6l chemicallv on each other, may be conneftcd 

 together in the fame manner as in (ingle circles, bv means 

 ot conductors of their own clafs, without any alteration of 

 the nature of the agencies. 



Thus, in the circle with copper, iron, and water, the 

 copper and iron may be conncded bv means of a wire of 

 brals§. And even the continuity of the portions of water 

 may be broken by moill n)ufcular fibre, and otiier imperfect 

 conductors, without any other change in the efi'ect than a 

 diminution of its intenfuv ||. 



§ 5. The galvanic influence, when hiohly accumulated^ 

 prociuces very extraordinary chemical and phylical cHoctsi 

 and, in many of its appearances, alfumes (lie precifc form 

 of common eleftricily. 



A. When in a powerful battery (one, for indance, con- 

 taining two hundred leries) the communication, alter being 

 broken, is agaui rendered complete bv tlic contact of two 

 perle6t conductors, a flafh or fpark of light is perceived 

 analogous to tiiat produced by ele6tricitv §. Tlii- Ipark, or 

 flafli, when the batterv is molt powerful, is capable of paiJing 

 through a confidcrablc lirntum of airf, and of inflamiiio 

 mixtures of oxygen and hydrogen**. When tlie znetallic 



■'■ Cnunt Rumford. f I^- X ^1:iJ'h- Ilaldaiie. § Volta. 



h Pfaff, Rittci-,and D. ^ Mr. CruikJhauk. •'■ Mr. R. Houlmn. 



fubftanCGS, 



