ABSOLUTE QUANTITY OF ELECTRICITY IN MATTER. 121 



pass to the cathode, I need only refer to the results which I have given (8O7. 813.) to 

 show that the chemical action at the electrodes has not the slightest influence over 

 the quantities of water or other substances decomposed between them, but that they 

 are entirely dependent upon the quantity of electricity which passes. 



868. What, then, follows as a necessary consequence of the whole experiment? Why, 

 this: that the chemical action upon 32-31 parts, or one equivalent of zinc, in this 

 simple voltaic circle, was able to evolve such quantity of electricity in the form of a 

 current as, passing through water, should decompose 9 parts, or one equivalent of 

 that substance : and, considering the definite relations of electricity as developed in 

 the preceding parts of the present paper, the results prove that the quantity of elec- 

 tricity which, being naturally associated with the particles of matter, gives them their 

 combining power, is able, when thrown into a current, to separate those particles 

 from their state of combination ; or, in other words, that the electricity which de- 

 composes, and that which is evolved hy the decomposition of, a certain quantity of 

 matter, are alike. 



869. The harmony which this theory of the definite evolution and the equivalent 

 definite action of electricity introduces into the associated theories of definite propor- 

 tions and electro-chemical affinity, is very great. According to it, the equivalent 

 weights of bodies are simply those quantities of them which contain equal quantities 

 of electricity, or have naturally equal electric powers ; it being the electricity which 

 determines the equivalent number, because it determines the combining force. Or, 

 if we adopt the atomic theory or phraseology, then the atoms of bodies which 

 are equivalents to each other in their ordinary chemical action, have equal quan- 

 tities of electricity naturally associated with them. But I must confess I am jealous 

 of the term atom ; for though it is very easy to talk of atoms, it is very difficult 

 to form a clear idea of their nature, especially when compound bodies are under 

 consideration. 



870. I cannot refrain from recalling here the beautiful idea put forth, I believe, by 

 Berzelius (703.) in his development of his views of the electro-chemical theory of 

 affinity, that the heat and light evolved during cases of powerful combination are the 

 consequence of the electric discharge which is at the moment taking place. The idea 

 is in perfect accordance with the view I have taken of the quantity of electricity asso- 

 ciated with the particles of matter. 



871. In this exposition of the law of the definite action of electricity, and its cor- 

 responding definite proportion in the particles of bodies, I do not pretend to have 

 brought, as yet, every case of chemical or electro-chemical action under its dominion. 

 There are numerous considerations of a theoretical nature, especially respecting the 

 compound particles of matter and the resulting electrical forces which they ought 

 to possess, which I hope will gradually receive their development ; and there are 

 numerous experimental cases, as, for instance, those of compounds formed by weak 

 affinities, the simultaneous decomposition of water and salts, &c., which still require 



MDCCCXXXIV. R 



