On the Voltaic Decomposition of Alcohol. 49 



a little move potassium to the same alcohol, we can renew the 

 effect. Thus in an experiment where, with a quantity of po- 

 tassium dissolved equivalent to tj^^ of anhydrous potash, 

 1*15 cubic inch of hydrogen was obtained, and the discharge 

 had much slackened, as much more potassium was added to the 

 same alcohol, and the charge of the battery was renewed. 

 The flow of gas then became as rigorous as ever, and in two 

 hours from the renewal I'Ot cubic inch of additional hydrogen 

 was obtained, or 2' 19 cubic inches from the commencement of 

 the experiment; and after some hours' longer action, 2^ cubic 

 inches in all were collected. It is thus evident that, by suc- 

 cessive additions of small quantities of potassium and renewals 

 of the charge, we might decompose anyproportion of the water, 

 entering into the constitution of the alcohol, we think proper. 

 In all these experiments similar secondary products of oxida- 

 tion were formed at the positive pole as formerly detailed. 



In repeating, on a larger scale, the experiments in which a 

 comparison was instituted between the quantity of hydrogen 

 evolved from alcohol and that evolved by the same current 

 from water, I found that several circumstances require to be 

 attended to. The platinum foil poles ought not to be placed 

 parallel to one another in the alcohol containing dissolved 

 potash or potassium, because a portion of the hydrogen, from 

 being produced in near proximity to the other pole, enters 

 into the constitution of the secondary products of oxidation, 

 and the quantity evolved is thus diminished. And even when 

 the extremities only of the foils are approximated to one an- 

 other, and the negative is kept uppermost, there still is a cer- 

 tain diminution of the hydrogen liberated, unless where other 

 circumstances of powerful action are employed. Thus where 

 ■^^Y, of anhydrous potash was in solution, and seventy-two pair 

 of four-inch plates were employed, the quantity of hydrogen 

 liberated from water, acidulated vvithy^ of sulphuric acid within 

 the first hour, was usually about one-quarter greater than that 

 from the alcohol; and if the action was longer continued, the 

 difference continued to increase. The cause of this I conceive 

 to be twofold ; first, that a part of the hydrogen, unless when 

 very rapidly liberated, is absorbed by the liquid and enters 

 into the constitution of the substances formed at the positive 

 pole; and second, that when the solution diminishes consider- 

 ably in conducting power the electric action diminishes also; 

 a result wliicii may be imitated by passing the same current 

 through distilled water, and water acidulated with sulphuric 

 acid, when the hydrogen liberated from the pure water will 

 be found to be notably less than that from the well-conduct- 

 ing fluid. 



Phil. Ma'T. S. .3. Vol. 18. No. 11 4-. Jan. 1811. K 



