Investigating the Field of Electrolytic Action. 447 



After the electric energy has done enough work on the 

 analyzer for the action to be visible, time is seen to exert no 

 influence in determining the magnitudes of the distributions. 

 Thus in 6 minutes and 60 minutes respectively, identical 

 distributions were recorded by similar analyzers, other cir- 

 cumstances being the same. But the magnitudes of the dis- 

 tributions registered by an analyzer of given dimensions vary 

 with every condition which may be supposed to alter the che- 

 mical or physical state of the electrolytic medium, as tempe- 

 rature, proportion of water, and electric quantity. 



When at ordinary temperatures the analyzer is placed with 

 its length perpendicular to the electrodes in a homogeneous 

 field*, although the superficial magnitudes of the ions vary, 

 as stated, with any variation in the condition of the electro- 

 lytic medium, yet in every case one quality is seen to obtain, 

 namely a similarity of the same ion on the two sides of the 

 analyzer, both as regards magnitude and configuration of its 

 boundary-line. This happens whether the plate has its shorter 

 edge vertical or is supported with its sides horizontal. Under 

 these circumstances the boundaries of the ions are practically 

 parallel with the shorter edge. Distributions having all these 

 characteristics are named parallel (figs. 1 and 3). 



When the course of the energy makes an oblique angle with 

 the edges of the analyzer, but remains parallel to the sides of 

 the latter, the electrifications recorded are also the same on the 

 two sides of the plate; but the boundary-lines of the ions now 

 cross the plate obliquely to its shorter edge (figs. 4, 5, and 6). 

 The positive ion on the longer edge in opposition to the course 

 of the energy is greatest in length, while the negative ion on 

 the same edge of the plate is smallest in length. The obliquity 

 and the intermedial space between the ions increase as the 

 longer edge of the analyzer approaches a line at right angles 

 to the direction of the influence. But at whatever angle the 

 plate is fixed, the boundary-lines of the ions are parallel with 

 the electrodes, and therefore at right angles to the direction 

 in which the energy is transmitted. 



When the electric power makes an oblique angle with the 

 sides of the analyzer, the electrifications recorded present a 

 totally different character. The magnitudes of the same 

 ion and the configuration of its boundary-line are now very 

 different on the two sides of the plate. On the side in op- 

 position to the direct course of the energy, the configuration 

 of the positive ion is markedly convex and greater in magni- 

 tude than it is on the reverse side of the plate, where, more- 



* That is, where the electrodes are of the same depth and breadth as 

 the cross section of the electrolyte. 



2K2 



