'50 '^'^ GALVANISM, 



Facts and ob- '^^ obstacles to the success of the scarlet dye. I have a nitmr- 



servationson bcr of patterns, of the most perfect dye: the least, of these, 

 'tin and its com- ... . "^ 



pounds. patterns is 12 inches square, which I mention lest they should 



,be confounded with small scraps dyed in a wine glass. 



Oxide of tin at the maximum is very soluble in potash : this 



solution easily crystallizes. The crystals appeared to me to be 

 -lenticular, adhering to each other without order; they taste 



like potash ; dissolve in water, where they lose part of their 

 , oxide ; become dense in a retort, yield water, ignite without 

 . melting, and preserve their shape. Beyond this I have not 



observed any thing remarkable. 



Madrid, April, 1S05. 



V. 



Experiments and Observations respecting the Manner in •which the 

 Gases are aforded in Water by Galvanism, and various es- 

 sential Points of Theory. By H. B. K, 



To Mr. NICHOLSON. 

 SIR, 



Introductory (PJ 



observations, o^^-f E respectable chemists having expressed a gFcat desije 



that I should give in your Journal my experiments, which form 

 my opinion that the gases obtained in Galvanism vary from 

 ■ different causes, as it is an opinion that miliiatcs so directly 

 against the Lavoiserian theory ; therefore they say the experi- 

 ments which lead to it, ought to be given to thii public, and 

 not rest upon a bare assertion. 



I must make these general observations, that I give the name 



■of pile to all Galvanic apparatus, even when they are formed 



of troughs ; and also, that the same general names arc given 



to the wires, calling them the silver wire, and the zinc wire, 



whatever metals funned the pile. 



The Galvanic Having constructed a pile, I found that it yielded hydrogen 



droi^Jntid 0x1 "'^'^ ^^''^'S^" =^^^^ ^^''^^ gold wires, and which were the com- 



ig:en in water mon gases usually formed, and that they detonated. I 



— nol"as wi'Ar ^'^^'^' '"Stead of the gold wires, used either animal or vegetable 



arimal fibres — substances ; but I found they generated no "ases. Then it 



but the gas as ", , .i . .i i " f . .* 



bcfi»!c, if the woukl appear, that the metals aro necessary to tin? phenomenon 



fibr«-.s kare tcr- , „, 



