ELECTRO-CHEMISTRY. 23 



26. When an acid decomposes a neutral salt by 

 combining with the alkaline base of the salt, how is 

 it that the acid base which is set free has its acid 

 properties restored ? The acid which decomposes 

 the neutral salt, in combining with the alkaline base 

 of the salt, gives off its positive electricity to the 

 base of the acid which is liberated, and because of 

 this the acid base which has been set free has its 

 acid properties restored. In the same manner the 

 alkali which decomposes a neutral salt gives off to 

 the alkaline base which is liberated its negative 

 electricity, and because of this the alkaline base 

 which has been set free has its alkaline properties 

 restored. 



27. Hydrogen obtained from water without oxygen, 

 and oxygen from water without hydrogen. 



28. Is water a binary compound, and are oxygen 

 and hydrogen the constituents of that body ? Or is 

 it a binary compound, which, when under electro- 

 decomposition, one of its constituents combines with 

 positive electricity, and oxygen is the product ; and 

 the other constituent combines with negative elec- 

 tricity, and hydrogen is the product ? 



29. Or is it an elementary body, which, when 

 under electro-action, positive electricity combines 



