Prof. Norton on Molecular Physics. Ill 



series from the zinc plate through the cell and all the media 

 on that side of the plate (p. 101). A corresponding series of 

 negative waves spread in every direction through the zinc plate 

 and the media lying without it, the electric movement in these 

 being toward the zinc plate. When the two plates are pro- 

 vided with wires leading away from them, we have evidence of 

 this wave movement, and of the polarization that has attended it, 

 in the positive and negative. states of the ends of the wires. Now 

 if the ends of these two wires he brought together, the entire 

 series of waves which pass through the copper and zinc plates are 

 condensed, so to speak, upon the wires, and pass through the 

 circuit. The entire quantity of electricity that would be dissi- 

 pated from the copper plates is thus brought round to the zinc 

 plate again. The arrival of this electricity intensifies the polari- 

 zing action going on at the zinc plate, and hastens the union of 

 the zinc and oxygen molecules. It also determines, if not before 

 established, the completion of the line of polarized water-parti- 

 cles traversing the cell. As soon as this takes place, the waves 

 that before spread through the cell are converted into linear 

 currents. At the same time, the electricity discharged from the 

 zinc to the oxygen passes over by conduction to its associate 

 hydrogen-molecule, and by its impulsive and repulsive action 

 urges the latter over to the next particle of oxygen in the 

 chain. This particle of hydrogen, with its charge of positive 

 electricity thus received, acts upon the second particle of oxygen 

 in the same manner that the zinc acted upon the first, and so on 

 throughout the chain. As the detached hydrogen-particle is 

 made, by the same force which detached it, to attract the next 

 oxygen -particle more energetically, there may be no material 

 movement of the common centre of gravity of any of the pairs 

 of particles that are separating or uniting. 



The explanation of the voltaic current that has now been 

 given seems to accord with the established laws and phenomena 

 of the current. The primary electromotive force must consist in 

 the energy of the natural polarizing or chemical action* exerted 

 between the zinc and the oxygen-molecule, diminished by any 

 opposing action of the same nature that may be in operation at 

 the copper plate. It follows from the principles of induction 

 laid down on p. 101, that the quantity of electricity in circula- 

 tion, or the intensity of the current, must be the same at all 

 points of the circuit. The period of time which the zinc and 

 oxygen- particles occupy in combining should be proportional to 

 the length of the entire circuit, supposing it to be of the same 

 material and cross section throughout — actually should be pro- 



* This chemical action is intensified by the cooperative polarizing action 

 of the sulphuric acid. 



