THE IONS Of THE ETHER 



described whether positive or negative, would run 

 witli lightning speed through this accumulation of 

 Ions, each one inducing opposite polarity in those in 

 advance of it. If the terminus of the positive wire 

 is the anode of a galvanic battery, the Ions thus de- 

 veloped will effect the usual decomposition of the 

 electrolyte ; or, if otherwise connected, give an electric 

 current. 



It is probable that the pressure of the dissociated 

 ether atoms is the cause of the firm adherence of air 

 or other gases to the surface of all solids, which, as 

 Gmelin states, is so strong that they cannot be re- 

 moved by exposure in a vacuum. It is well known 

 that the adhering gases can only be removed from 

 barometer tubes by boiling the mercury therein. The 

 Torricellian Vacuum cannot dislodge them. The 

 application of the heat of ebullition, or, in other 

 words, the molar vibrations of the ether, readily re- 

 move all traces of the adhering gases. 



It may be urged that the general formula " The 

 energy of the moving Ether molecules equals half of 

 their mass, multiplied by the square of their velocity " 

 is inapplicable to the Ether molecules, inasmuch 

 as by the definition of the Ether it has no mass in 

 the sense of weight. It is not ponderable matter ; its 

 molecules would not have mass. Consequently, under 

 the above formula, the mass being (Zero), their 



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