Ezistence of Radicals in the Amphide Salts disproved. 255 
it just dipped. A platinum electrode, connected with the last zinc rod 
of a large constant battery of twenty cells, was placed in the solution 
of potassa ; and another, connected with the copper of the first cell, was 
placed in the sulphate of copper immediately under the diaphragm 
which separated the two solutions. The circuit conducted very readily, 
and the action was very energetic. Hydrogen was given off at the 
platinode in a solution of potassa, and oxygen at the zincode in the sul- 
phate of copper. A small quantity of gas was also seen to rise from 
the surface of the diaphragm. In about ten minutes the lower surface 
of the membrane was found beautifully coated with metallic copper, 
interspersed with oxide of copper of a black color, and hydrated oxide 
of copper of a light blue. 
“The explanation of these phenomena is obvious. In the experi- 
mental cell we have two electrolytes separated by a membrane, through 
both of which the current must pass to complete its circuit. The sul- 
phate of copper is resolved into its compound anion, sulphuric acid + 
oxygen (oxysulphion), and its simple cathion, copper: the oxygen of 
the former escapes at the zincode, but the copper on its passage to the 
platinode is stopped at the surface of the second electrolyte, which for 
the present we may regard as water improved in its conducting power 
by potassa. The metal here finds nothing by combining with which 
it can complete its course, but being forced to stop, yields up its charge 
to the hydrogen of the second electrolyte, which passes on to the pla- 
tinode, and is evolved. 
“The corresponding oxygen stops also at the diaphragm, giving up 
its charge to the anion of the sulphate of copper. The copper and oxy- 
gen thus meeting at the intermediate point, partly enter into combina- 
tion, and form the black oxide; but from the rapidity of the action, 
there is not time for the whole to combine, and a portion of the cop- 
per remains in the metallic state, and a portion of the gaseous oxygen 
escapes. The precipitation of blue hydrated oxide doubtless arose 
from the mixing of a small portion of the two solutions.” 
77. It will be admitted, that agreeably to the admirable re- 
searches of Faraday, there are two modes in which a voltaic cur- 
rent may be transmitted, conduction and electrolyzation. In order 
that it may pass by the last mentioned process, there must be a 
row of anions and cathions forming a series of electrolytic atoms 
extending from the cathode to the anode. It is not necessary 
that these atoms should belong to the same fluid. A succession 
of atoms, whether homogeneous, or of two kinds, will answer, 
provided either be susceptible of electrolyzation. Both of the 
liquids resorted to by Daniell, contained atoms susceptible of 
