Electricitij in Electrolytes. 99 



they will remain as long as no foreign force acts on them, so that 

 the several molecules, although capable of oscillating about their 

 positions of equilibrium, are not able to quit the same entirely ; 

 further, in accordance with the assumption which such an arrange- 

 ment necessitates, let the attraction between two partial mole- 

 cules combined into one complete molecule (and consequently in 

 close proximity to each other) be greater than the attraction 

 between the positive partial molecule of one complete molecule 

 and the negative one of another. If within this mass an electric 

 force, whose tendency is to drive the positively electrified partial 

 molecules in one direction, and the negatively electrified ones in 

 the opposite direction, begins to act, the question arises, what 

 influence will the same exert upon the deportment of the mo- 

 lecules. 



The molecules being supposed capable of turning round a 

 point, the first effect would clearly be to give them all a like 

 direction, so that the two oppositely electric constituents of each 

 complete molecule would turn towards the sides to which they 

 are solicited by the acting force. 



The force would further strive to separate the constituents of 

 each complete molecule and cause them to move in opposite 

 directions, so that the positive constituent of each complete mole- 

 cule would encounter and combine with the negative constituent 

 of the next following molecule. But in order to separate the 

 already combined partial molecules, the attraction which they 

 exert upon each other must be overcome, for which a force of a 

 certain intensity is necessary; hence we are led to the conclusion, 

 that so long as the force acting within the conductor does not pos- 

 sess this requisite intensitij, no decomposition whatever can take 

 place ; but that, on the other hand, as soon as the force has attained 

 this intensity, a great many molecules must be simultaneously de- 

 composed, inasmuch as all are exposed to the influence of the same 

 force, and have almost the same relative positions to each other. 

 If we assume that the conductor conducts only in virtue of elec- 

 trolysis, then with reference to the electric current, this conclu- 

 sion may be thus expressed: — So long as the moving force acting 

 within the conductor is below a certain limit, it causes no current 

 ivhatever ; so soon as it attains this limit, however, a very strong 

 current is suddenly produced. 



This conclusion, however, is in direct contradiction to experi- 

 ment. The smallest possible force* gives rise to a current 



* I must once more expressly state, that here and elsewhere, throughout 

 tlie whole of this memoir, I do not refer to the forces which act at the 

 electrodes, where the results of decomi)osition arc separated and jjolariza- 

 tion must be overcome, but solely to the force which acts within the elec- 

 trolyte itself, where each partial molecule, separated from the one previ* 



H2 ^ 



