32 Electrolytic Crystallization of Metals. 



terms have been corrupted and tacked on to the very hypothesis, 

 they were coined to avoid. 



In Vol. I of his Experimental Researches.^ p. 148, § 518, 

 he says — " Passing to the consideration of electrochemical 

 decomposition, it appears to me that the effect is produced 

 by an internal corpuscular action, exerted according to the 

 direction of the electric current, and that it is due to a force 

 either superadded to or giving direction to the ordinary chemical 

 affinity of the bodies present. The body under decomposition 

 may be considered as a mass of acting particles, all those which 

 are included in the course of the electric current contributing to 

 the final effect ; and it is because the ordinary chemical affinity 

 is relieved, weakened, or partly neutralized by the influence of 

 the electric current in one direction parallel to the course of the 

 latter, and strengthened or added to in the opposite direction, 

 that the combining particles have a tendency to pass in opposite 

 courses." He then goes on to explain by means of a diagram, 

 the interaction of the particles on the decomposing liquid. 



With a degree less of that dignified modesty of reserve in 

 presence of the unknown which characterized the great phil- 

 osopher, I have somewhat elaborated this diagram in order to 

 produce a mechanical lantern slide which might give a possible 

 elucidation of the question as to how the particles of the anion 

 cross to the anode, while those of the cation cross to the cathode 

 without in either case appearing in the free state in the interval. 

 The working of the slide may be illustrated by the following 

 scheme, where in line (i) «^, ^^, a®, etc, represent particles of 

 an anion, such as chlorine in combination with P-., b^, 3', etc., 

 particles of the cation such as tin. The effect of the current 

 may now be supposed to loosen the attraction between a^ and 3^, 

 while it increases that between P- and a^^ causing an interchange 

 of partners here, and also all along the line, resulting in the 

 arrangement shown in line (2). 



(I) a'b^, a^b\ a^b\ a^b\ a'b^ 



N 



(2) 



P 



«i, b^a\ b''a\ b^a\ b^a\ 



b" 



(3) 



a\ «2^S a^b'', a'b\ a^b\ 



b' 



(4) 





a\ a\ b^a\ b^a\ ¥a\ b\ 



b* 



