ON ELECTROLYSIS IN ITS PHYSIC.VL AND CHEMICAL BEARINGS. 353 



A still more striking proof of this relation is afforded by some salts of -which 

 the electrolysis is not normal and does not tend to become so -with increasing 

 dilution. For instance nitrate of soda • — 



S 

 ( 2066 



i 128-7 



[The meaning of w = -614 is that -when an equivalent of NaNO^ is decomposed, 

 •614 of an equivalent is lost from neighbourhood of cathode and -386 from neigh- 

 bourhood of anode.] 



The numher n thus varies little -with dilution, and appears rather to diverge 

 from the normal value -5 as dilution increases. 



A comparison between NaNOj and KCl of the same concentration has fur- 

 nished me -with the folio-wing results : — 



n 

 •588 

 •600 

 •614 

 •614 



Concentration 



Ratio of Resistance 

 1-489 

 1^476 



Ratio of Equivalents 

 } 1-141 



The specific resistance thus scarcely varies -with dilution, and it is almost 1-3 

 time its theoretical value. The permanent anomaly of its electrolysis corresponds 

 to a permanent departure from the la-w of equivalents. Salts -which behave some- 

 thing like nitrate of soda are LiCl, NaCl, CaSO,, NaNO,, NaClO.,, Ba2N0,, Cal, 

 BaSClOj ; Li.SO, + H„0, Ca2N03 + 4H,,0, SrCl, + 6H,0, Nal + 2H„0. 



V. Discussion of the Results of M. Kohlrmisch. 



Kohlrausch attributes to every ion a specific molecular conductivity which it 

 preserves in every combination. 



Bouty asserts that the molecular conductivity of all neutral salts in very dilute 

 solution is the same ; and would thus consider that the numbers of ionic velocity 

 given by Kohlrausch should be all equal, which they by no means are. 



He proceeds to criticise Kohlrausch's experiments by saying that the solutions 

 he used were too concentrated, the weakest containing 5 per cent, of salt, while 

 Bouty 's went as low as -025 per cent. 



' On the other hand Kohlrausch's tables are too comprehensive, they include 

 electrolytes which cannot be directly compared : let us leave on one side for the 

 1886. A A 



