98 Prof. Glausius on the Conduction of 



started from one electrode^ e. g. the anode, that the negative 

 partial molecules of the decomposed complete molecules were 

 here retained, whilst the positive ones proceeded to the next 

 stratum of liquid, and there determined a new decomposition by 

 combining with the negative partial molecules of that stratum, 

 and liberating the positive ones ; that the latter again withdrew 

 to the following stratum, and there once more occasioned the 

 same effects, and so on. According to this, the decomposition 

 of one stratum would cause that of the next following, and the 

 action of the moving force in the conductor would be limited, 

 first, to moving the liberated partial molecules of the first stra- 

 tum to the following one, and secondly, to facilitating the decom- 

 position by also pressing forwards the positive partial molecules 

 of this latter stratum. 



The falsity of this view is at once proved by the fact that, 

 according to it, an excess of positive partial molecules, and con- 

 sequently of positive electricitj^, would always exist within the 

 liquid during the current ; as already mentioned, this hypothesis 

 — according to the laws of the distribution of electricity — is just 

 as inadmissible in the case of a stationary current as in that of a 

 state of equilibrium. In the same manner, if we were to assume 

 that the above-described method of propagation of the decom- 

 position took place in a contrary direction, from the cathode to 

 the anode, we should obtain an excess of negative partial mole- 

 cules within the liquid, which would of course be equally un- 

 tenable. 



As a basis for all further considerations, we must adhere to 

 the principle, that every measurable portion of the liquid contains 

 an eqiial number of positive and negative partial molecules, no 

 matter whether the same are combined in pairs to form complete 

 molecules, or whether some are distributed in an uncombined 

 state, amongst these complete molecules. 



From this it follows, that in an electrolytic liquid in its natural 

 state, wherein neither kind of partial molecules preponderates, 

 such decompositions and I'ccombinations as are necessary to the 

 conduction of electricity may take place under the sole influence 

 of the force which serves to overcome the resistance to conduction. 



The explanation of this fact presents a peculiar difficulty, 

 which, it ap])ears to me, can only be surmounted by assuming a 

 deportment of liquids altogether different from that ordinarily 

 accepted. In the following paragraphs I will endeavour to elu- 

 cidate this. 



6. Let us conceive a given liquid consisting either entirely or 

 partially of electrolytic molecules, and let us in the first place 

 assume that during the natural state of the liquid these mole- 

 cules have arranged themselves in some definite order, in which 



