4,06 M. Becquerel on the Electric 



By the help of the principle that we have before laid down, 

 we can explain all these results, and even draw consequences 

 from it which will be useful to the electro-chemical theory. 



Admitting, as we have already said, that the electric states 

 of the metal box and of the plate of metal be represented by 

 j_y , S'-S 

 + — and + — 



(+8 and — 8 being the electric tensions of the box and of 

 the acid liquid which is in it, +8' and —8' those of the same li- 

 uid and of the metallic plate which is plunged in it), it fol- 

 lows, that a vessel of platinum, containing the concentrated 

 sulphuric acid in which shall be plunged a plate of gold, of 

 silver, of copper, or of zinc, will always have for its electric 



j y 



tension + ~y ' a positive quantity; 



which requires that 8 be greater than 8'; from whence it is to 

 be concluded, that platinum is more positive in its contact with 

 sulphuric acid than gold, silver, or copper, submitted to the 

 same experiment. 



When the vessel of platinum contains sulphuric acid diluted 

 with water, other phenomena take place, which must be taken 

 into account. We have said that platinum, gold, and silver, 

 took the negative electricity in their contact with water di- 

 luted with this acid ; whilst zinc, lead, iron, and copper, ac- 

 quired positive electricity. It must be concluded from thence, 

 that for platinum, and zinc the electric state of the first 



will be H- — = a positive quantity, 



and the state of the second ^- = a negative quantity ; 



which always takes place. We also find that the copper is 

 less negative with a solution of potash than the zinc is in its 

 contact with the same liquid. 



We have then a process for determining the relations of 

 the electric states of bodies in their contact with liquids. In 

 the contact of the metals it has been found that platinum is al- 

 ways negative with any metal whatever ; but it is not yet 

 known, if it be, for example, more negative with gold, than 

 gold is with silver ; whilst, in the experiments with which we 

 have just been occupied, similar relations are to be found when 

 one of the bodies is liquid. 



Electric Actions produced by the Contact of certain Flames and 

 Metals. 



Hitherto wc have applied ourselves to the investigation of 



electric 



