94 THE THEORY OF IONS 



of experiments which show that the conductivity of 

 protein through the presence of ions is very great ; 

 and that the electrical charge is entirely due to the 

 associated ion. In these experiments he tested the 

 behaviour of dissolved proteins with many salts, 

 and the results are summarised as follows :* 



1. Protein which has been carefully freed from 

 electrolytes shows no electrical charge. 



2. None of the albuminous constituents of blood 

 serum show any electric charge in the absence of 

 electrolytes. 



3. Neutral salts of alkalies or alkaline earths do 

 not impart an electrical charge to uncharged pro- 

 tein. 



4. A trace of acid imparts a positive electrical 

 charge through the positive H ions, and alkalies a 

 negative charge through the OH ions. 



5. Alkaline salts (e.g. carbonates and phosphates 

 of alkali metals) render protein electro-negative ; 

 acid salts give a positive charge. 



The native proteins of the blood and tissues 

 carry a negative electrical charge which is derived 

 from OH ions split off from the salts of the serum 

 and lymph. f When bicarbonate of sodium is added 

 to fresh non-charged protein it assumes a strong 

 negative electric charge and becomes sodium- 

 bicarbonate-protein . 



As the electrical conditions of the proteins of the 

 body are determined through the salts of the fluids, 

 so are those of the cells ; which again shows how im- 



* Pauli's "Physical Chemistry in the Service of Medicine," 

 p. 143. 



t Loc. cit., p. 145. 



