ExpeHments in Galvanic EleBr'ic'ity. 5^7 



aii eleftrlc fpark is pafled through the gas that remains after 

 the abforption of the carbonic acid by cauftic alkali, it im- 

 mediately explodes: Thefe refults >E'ven take place on elec- 

 trifying carbonic atid from marble, previonfly calcined in a 

 low red heat, to expel its water, and then diftilled in aii 

 earthen retbrt *. 



IV. Experiments in Galvanic Ehclricifj , by MeJJrs, 

 Nicholson, Garlisle, Cruickshank, &c. 



I 



N the fourth volume of the Philofophical Magazine, 

 p. 59, 163, and 306, we laid before our reader's M. Voita's 

 account of the progrefs he had then made in Galvanifiri ; and 

 in our riumber for May laft we ftiited that Mr. Car-' 

 lifle had been making fome experiments which were likely 

 to lead to fome important difcovery in Galvanic ele6lricity. 

 \Ve fliouid have then mentioned, but' we knew not the fadt, 

 that he made therri iri conjunftion with Mr. Nicholfon, 

 editor of a well condu<9:ied and , well known philofophical 

 journal. Wlien we learnt the circuniftance, motives of de- 

 licacy, whlcb our readers muft approve, forbade our attempt- 

 ing to give any further particulars till Mr. Nicholfon him- 

 felf, who had the bed right, {hoiild firft lay them before the 

 public. 



Since that time Mr. Nicholfon has publiflied feVeral cu- 

 irious arid important papers on this fubjeft, from which we 

 ihall now fele£l a few particulars for the information of our 

 readers ; referring thofe who may wi(h for a fuller account, 

 to Mr. Nicholfou's journal. 



The general apparatus we need nek particularly td defcribcj 

 haviiiir in the prefent number givtn a tranflation of M. Voi- 

 ta's paper wliich appeared in the fecond part of the Philo- 

 ophical Tratifadlons for the prefent year, jurt publiOied. 



* MefTieurs Lnndri^iiu and Van Marum (j4», (k Cbemie, Tome IT. 

 p. »70.) obtained only hydrogenoijs gas by eleilrifying the carbonic acid 

 j;3s. But the conduftor of their apparatus was an iron cue ; whicii rattal 

 vould combine with the oxygen ot the water, and prevent it from appear- 

 ing in a gafcmis ftate. In my experiments the couduftors were of piatina. 



'Vou'^VIL Xx Mr. 



