373 M. G. Quincke on Electrolysis, and the 



§63. 



Prom equation A, § 52_, the conclusion was drawn that for a 

 given liquid a separation of partial molecules, or, what is the 

 same thing, a chemical decomposition of the liquid, can only 

 occur when the current has acquired a certain density. If, 

 however, the effective electric force in the liquid conductor re- 

 main below a certain magnitude, no decomposition and no 

 electric current can take place; but if this electric force exceed 

 this definite magnitude, then many molecules will be suddenly 

 decomposed simultaneously, and a current be suddenly perceived. 



Clausius* also arrived at this conclusion from considerations 

 which are similar in many respects to those communicated in 

 this paper, and according to him are in complete contradiction 

 to experiment, since ^^by means of alternate decomposition and 

 recomposition even the smallest force produces a conducting 

 current, and the intensity of the current is, according to Ohm^s 

 law, proportional to the force. ■'^ 



Clausius tries to reconcile theory and experiment by as- 

 suming that there are free partial molecules in the liquid, 

 which have been formed and continue to form themselves 

 through the decomposition of a total molecule, even without an 

 electric current traversing the liquid. The electrical forces then 

 operate merely on these free positive and negative electric par- 

 tial molecules, increase the path which is described through this 

 molecular motion by the free partial molecules in the direction 

 of their action (that is, in the direction or in the opposite direc- 

 tion of the current) ; and thereby the separation of the partial 

 molecules on the electrode is brought about. 



I now think, however, that it is not necessary to make this 

 last assumption, because the above-mentioned law is not at vari- 

 ance with experiment. 



It is of course correct that we always perceive polarization 

 when an electrical current of a constant battery is passed 

 through a liquid which in ordinary language is said to conduct 

 electrolytically, and that this polarization arises from the par- 

 tial molecules which are separated by the current. If, how- 

 ever, in the expression for the force K, which is necessary 

 for the separation of the partial molecules, instead of the in- 

 tensity of the current^ we introduce the electromotive force of the 

 battery employed, then we obtain expression (6), 



?zG 



K=y(Be-BV), 



which shows that with the same given liquid (for which the 

 * Pogg. Ann, vol, ci. p. 347 (185/). 



