concerned in the Pkanomena of ordinary Electricity, l^c. 137 



and that these quantities constitute their affinity for each 

 other*. 



Although Professor Faraday has not expressed himself fully 

 on this subject, I understand him to mean, that of combining 

 atoms some are naturally in the positive state {i. e. naturally 

 associated with a positive electricity or affinity), and some in the 

 negative state; and indeed he expresses himself elsewhere f to 

 this precise effect. An atom of each of the different kinds of 

 matter will contain an equal quantity or degree of a different 

 state or kind of electi'icity ; that is, will have an electric attrac- 

 tion equal with that of every other atom in the same electric 

 state, for every atom that is naturally in a differently electric 

 state. But if all the atoms of matter are endued with equal 

 forces of electrical attraction, then they are all endued with equal 

 forces of affinity ; and if all atoms, that is all matter, be endued 

 with equal force of affinity, then there can be no superior or 

 inferior forces of affinity, and therefore chemical decomposition 

 due to this cause can never take place. Mixtures of incompa- 

 tible substances may therefore be made without exchange of 

 principles ; all the affinities will be quiescent, because not any 

 one of the elements concerned will possess stronger powers of 

 affinity than another. 



How, then, can the decomposing powers of electricity, whether 

 frictional or voltaic, be reconciled to the doctrine of electro- 

 chemical affinity and electro-chemical equivalents ? If the atoms 

 of all bodies be associated with equal quantities of electricity or 

 affinity, and if during decomposition "the quantity (of electricity) 

 which passes is the equivalent of, and therefoi-e equal to that of 

 the particles separated J," it is not easy to understand why the 

 equal quantity of electricity that is supposed to act should pro- 

 duce separation of the elements previously united by a force ex- 

 actly similar. 



On this subject Baron Berzelius observes, that " according to 

 this hypothesis, the same electric current which is adequate to 

 the separation of an atom of silver from an atom of oxygen 

 would also separate an atom of potassium from an atom of 



* Tliis idea, in a somcwliat different form, had occurred to Sir H. Davy 

 in 182f), but he did not follow it up. That philosopher says, " in assuming 

 the idea of two jctliercal, subtile, elastic fluids, attractive of the particles of 

 each other, and rei)ulsive as to their own particles, capable of combining in 

 different proportions with bodies, and vccording to their proportions (jiving 

 them their specific qualities, and rendering them eqidvalent masses, it would 

 be natural to refer the action of the iiolcs to the repulsions of the sub- 

 Btances combined with the excess of one iluid, and the attractions of those 

 united to the excess of the other fluid, and a histoiy of the jthrenomena 

 not unsatisfactory to the reason might in this way be made out." — Philo- 

 sophical Transactions, 1826. 



t Researches, par. 961. J Ibid. par. 855. 



