e 
* 
Kleetricity—E lectro-chemical action. 383 
His depolarising apparatus gives him a more constant current 
than had been obtained, and serves as a means of verifying the 
results he before arrived at, which are for the most part confirmed. 
The following are his conclusions : 
1. In the action of acids on metals, or on saline solutions, the 
acids or acid solutions take always an excess of positive electri- 
city ; the metals and alkaline solutions, a. corresponding excess of 
‘negative electricit 
y: 
e disengagement of cron in combustion is governed 
by the same principle ; the combustible body disengages — 
electricity, the supporter of fossiaieion} positive 
Decompositions produce inverse electric effects. 
4. There is no disengagement of electricity as long as the two 
bodies in hand are conductors of electricity: thus in the combi- 
nation of a metal with oxygen, iodine, or dry bromine, electricity 
1s “9 produced. 
. In the mixture of acids with water, or in their combination 
i it, water acts as a base ; whilst it acts as an acid, as regards 
alkaline solutio 
6. Concentrated solutions of a neutral salt act with reference 
to water, as regards electrical effects produced, in the same man- 
ner as acids with reference to bases. 
7. Acids in their combination or their mixture with other acids 
act in such a way that the acids the most oxydising are the most 
electro-positive; in their combinations with bases, the acids ap- 
= to retain the same property, so that in the reaction, in the 
of the mixture of two aaeaie saturated with a neutral 
ms the nitrate is positive with reference to a sulphate, the sul- 
phate with reference to a phosphate, &c. 
8. When several acid solutions, neutral or alkaline, are placed 
alongside of one another, so as to mix slowly, the electric effects 
produced are the resultant of the individual effects which take 
place at each surface of contact. 
Contrary to the opinion of Volta, we may make an electric 
chain, or rather a closed circuit solely with liquids, in which an. 
tric current will circulate, and by which phenomena of de- 
eaten and recomposition may be obtained, if there are in 
the circuit bodies which are conductors of electricity. Living 
organised bodies present numerous examples of a circuit of this 
kind, oe place t to -sleatto-c heres) gtlests,.3 woes have eee 


White occu snd ties an | Boies S cee ae he 

disengagement of electricity in chemical action, M. Deiciet his 
endeavored to bring the principle to a practical use. A long time 
