96 Prof. Clausius on the Conduction of 



density, the same coustitutiou, and tlie same arrangement of 

 molecules as it had at the commencement. HencC; although 

 ignorant of the quantities of work done in the several processes 

 by the molecular forces, we may safely di-aw the conclusion that 

 the algebraical sum of all such quantities of work is zero. Conse- 

 quently there remains only the work performed by the moving 

 electric force when overcoming resistance to conduction,, which 

 work, having produced no permanent change in the conductor, 

 must have been converted into vis viva, and the latter, inasmuch 

 as no other vis viva is present, into heat. 



Accordingly, if H represent the heat generated in the above 

 space during the unit of time, and A be the equivalent of heat 

 for the unit of work, we may deduce from the foregoing equation 

 the following: 



1 have already shown in my former memoir that this equation 

 includes, as a particular case, the empirical laws established for a 

 linear conductor, according to which the heat generated is pro- 

 portional to the resistance to conduction and to the square of the 

 intensity of the current. 



4. We will now enter more into the details of the conception 

 to be formed of the manner in which the conduction of electricity 

 takes place within an electrolyte. 



The molecules of the electrolyte are resolved by the current 

 into two constituents, which may either be simple atoms, or 

 themselves consist of several atoms combined into molecules. 

 For example, in sulphate of copper the one constituent, Cu, is 

 simple, the other, SO*, compound. These constituents, whether 

 simple or compound, I will call partial molecules, should it be 

 necessary to distinguish them from a complete molecule of the 

 electrolyte. 



From the connexion between the decomposition of an electro- 

 lyte and the conduction of electricity, we arc led to the conclusion 

 that the two partial molecules forming a complete molecule are 

 in opposite electric conditions^ which conditions remain even 

 after separation. On the hypothesis of two electric fluids, there- 

 fore, we must assume that the one partial molecule has an excess 

 of positive, and the other an equal excess of negative electricity ; 

 under the hypothesis of one electric fluid, we must assume, how- 

 ever, that the one partial molecule possesses more, whilst the 

 other possesses less electricity than is necessary for the neutral 

 condition. 



It is readily conceivable that two molecules of different natures 

 may, during their coutactj assume such opposite electric con- 



