T^xperhnents in Gahjanic "EleBricifj. 339 



f}mc the cmiflion of gas was fufpeudecl. When this laft 

 mentioned wire was removed, the gas reappeared as before, 

 not inrtantly, but after the lapfe of four beats of a half fecond. 

 clock (landing in the room. The produft of gas, during the 

 whole two hours and a half, was two-thirtieths of a cubic 

 inch. It was then mixed with an equal quantity of commoa- 

 ttir,and exploded by the application of a lighted waxed thread." 



To have reverfed the tube would have anfwereJ the fame- 

 purpofe, but they chofe to do this, " and found that, when 

 the zinc was at the bottom, its cfi'cfts were reverfed ; that is 

 to fay, the gas ftill camt from ih^ wire communicating with 

 the filver," &c. 



MeflVs. Carlifle and Nicholfon were "led, by reafon- 

 hig on the firft appearance of hydrogen, to expeft a decom- 

 pofition of water; but it vias with no little furprlfe that they 

 found the hydrogen extricated at the contact with one wire^ 

 while the oxygen fixed itfelf in combination with the other 

 wire at the dillance of almoft two inches. As the diflance 

 between the wires formed a ftriking feature in this refult, it 

 became defirable to afcertain whether it would take place to 

 greater dlftances. When a tube three quarters of an inch 

 in diameter, and thirty-lix inches long, was made ufe of, the 

 effecl failed, though the very fame wires, inferted intoafliorter 

 tube, operated very brilkly." 



The experiment being tried with tinfture of litmus jn 

 place of water, and the oxydating wire, namely, from the 

 2inc fide, being lowed in the tube, it changed the tinfture 

 red in about ten minutes as high as the upper extremity of 

 the wire. The other portion remained blue. Hence ii feems 

 either an acid was formed, or that a portion of the oxygen 

 combined with the litmus, fo as to produce the effe^l of an 

 acid. 



" It may be here offered as a general remark, that the 

 cle6lric pile with card, or with woollen cloth, continues in 

 order for about tv/o days, orfcarcely three; that, from a fcrics 

 of glaffes fet up b-y Mr. Carlille, as well as from the pile it- 

 felf, it appears that the fame procefs of decompolition of 

 v/ater is carried on between each pair of plates, the zinc 

 being oxyded on the wet face, and hydrogen given out,; that 

 X X 3 the 



