492 Dr. Gore on the Greater Influence of First Quantities 



Fig. 12. 

 HCl+Na,C0 3 , with CdPt at 22° C. 



Volts. 

 1-13 



Grain of NagCOa- 



The greater effect of the first unit quantity of the anhydrous 

 alkali is quite conspicuous, and is about equal in magnitude 

 to that of mixed soda and water in the immediately previous 

 experiment. The amount of such effect, however, obtained 

 with the first unit quantity of mixed soda and water was not 

 equal to the united amounts of first effect of dry soda and that 

 of water alone (see curve, fig. 1). 



I have found the same effect with dilute hydrochloric 

 acid and the anhydrous carbonates of lithium, sodium, potas- 

 sium, rubidium, barium, strontium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, 

 and cadmium ; with dilute sulphuric acid and the carbonates 

 of rubidium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, and cad- 

 mium ; with dilute nitric acid and the carbonates of sodium 

 and potassium ; with dilute hydrochloric, hydrobromic, and 

 hydriodic acids, and carbonate of sodium ; ditto with the car- 

 bonates of calcium and cadmium. In no case has an exception 

 been observed. 



The curves of electromotive force obtained in this research 

 and in the one referred to (Philosophical Magazine, May 1890, 

 p. 421) support in greater or less degree the general conclu- 

 sion, that when successive equal quantities of one electrolyte are 

 added to a fixed and much larger quantity of another, the first 

 added quantity has usually a much greater effect than any of 

 the immediately succeeding ones in altering the amount of electro- 

 motive force of a voltaic couple, and consequently also in altering 

 that of all other properties inseparably related to it. 



This conclusion is further supported by the facts already 

 mentioned, viz., 1st, that on adding equal quantities of water 



