Outlines of a fleiv of Galvaniftn. 335' 



§ 6. The acencv of the galvanic influence, which occa- 

 fions chemical changes, and communicates elcdtrical charges, 

 is probablv, in fome meafure, dillin6l from that agency 

 which produces fparks, and the combyrtion of bodies. 



The one appears (all other circumftances being fimilar) 

 to have little relation to furface in compound circles, but to 

 be great, in fome unknown proportion, as the number of 

 feries are numerous. The intenfity of the other feems to be 

 as much connected with the extenfion of the furfaces of the 

 feries, as with their number. 



Thus, though eight feries, compofed of plates of zinc and 

 copper, about ten inches fquare, and of cloth% of the fame 

 fize, nioiftened in diluted muriatic acid, give fparks fo vivid 

 as to burn iron wire; yet the fliocks they produce are hardly 

 fenfible, and the chemical changes indi(tin6l *. Whilit 

 twenty-four feries of (imilar plates and cloths, about two 

 inches fquare, which occafion fliocks and chemical agencies 

 more than three times as intenfe, produce no light whatever. 



§ 7. A meafure of the intenfity of the power in galvanic 

 batteries, producing chemical changes, may be derived from 

 the quantity of gas it is capable of evolving from water in a 

 given time ; or from the length of the fluid chain through 

 which it can he tranfmitted. For the lame law of diminu- 

 tion of aftivity that was applied to finglc circles in § 4. 

 p. 330, mav be likewife applied to compound circles. 



The general relative forces of different batteries may be 

 afcertained by conne6^ting them in oppofite orders, fo as to 

 produce a certain annihilation of power. For in all cafes 

 when the molt oxidable part of one feries is placed oppofite 

 to the fame part of another equal feries, and connefited with 

 it by means of a fluid, the galvanic agencies of both are de- 

 llroyed. 



IV. General Ohfervations. 



§ I. From a valuable experiment lately madef, it appears, 

 that, when common ele6lrlcity is paflcd through water, by 

 means of two very fine metallic points, chemical changes 

 are eiTetSled by it, analogous to thofe occ;lfiontd by the trauf- 

 iniflflon of the galvanic influence. 



This faft, finely, prefcnts a very ftrong analogy between 

 calvanifm and tlie common eleftrical influence; and, when 

 compared with the other fads, it amounts almoft to a de- 

 nionflration of their identity. 



On this theory, it feems mod probable, that all the different 



♦ FourcroVi Vaiiquclin, and TlienarJ. 

 t By Dr. Wollalton. 

 Vol. XL Y galvanic 



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