4 ELECTRO-CHEMISTRY. 



by heat, I therefore inferred, that were two bodies, 

 the one united with positive and the other with 

 negative electricity, subjected to an intense heat, 

 the two electricities, viewed as material elements, 

 would have their affinities for the bodies with which 

 they were in combination so loosened or impaired, 

 that they would unite when connected with each 

 other by means of a platinum wire, or any other 

 conductor of electricity. With this view I employed 

 a cast iron tray, twelve inches in length, ten in 

 width, and three in depth. I covered the bottom of 



FIG. l. 



lM'i 



the tray with a mixture of plaster of Paris and 

 finely-sifted coal-ash, and upon the surface of this 

 mixture I placed two thick glass tubes, hermetically 

 sealed, the one containing a portion of the chlorate 

 of potassa, and another an equivalent quantity of 

 potassium. These tubes were connected internally 



