298 Dr. G. Gore on the Molecular 



proper acid added to it ; but in the present case the two dilute 

 acids were first mixed and then a dilute solution of caustic soda 

 added to the mixture. 



Three solutions were made, of different degrees of dilution, 

 of a mixture of 1 equivalent each of the two acids ; and three 

 others, of similar degrees of dilution, of 1 equivalent of caustic 

 soda ; the solutions of acid and alkali of corresponding degrees 

 of dilution were then mixed together. 



Table XVI. 



No. 1 contained 1 grain of the mixture in 155 grains of water. 



„ 2 „ 1 „ „ 1,550-0 



„ 3 „ 1 „ „ 15,500-0 „ „ 



Their amounts of voltaic energy were then, after suitable 

 dilution, measured. 



Table XVII. 



No. 1 gave between 30,511 and 33,917 at 15° 0. Average 32,214. 

 „ 3 „ „ 48,407 „ 53,819 „ 13 „ 51,123. 



From the results of exps. 4, 5, and 6, it appears: — (1) that, 

 with sufficiently dilute solutions of the acid and alkali, if the 

 sulphuric acid was first added to the soda and the nitric acid 

 then added to the sulphate of sodium, the voltaic energy of 

 the mixture was about 73,977 ; (2) that with either concen- 

 trated or dilute solutions, if the nitric acid was first added to 

 the soda and then the sulphuric acid to the nitrate of sodium, 

 the energy was = 32,722 ; and (3) that with all except very 

 weak solutions, if the two diluted acids were first mixed 

 together and then the soda added to the acid mixture, the 

 energy was also 32,722 ; whilst with very weak ones it was 

 = 51,123. The order of addition of the liquids to each other 

 therefore affects the amount of voltaic energy, the molecular 

 constitution of the liquid, and probably also the distribution 

 of acids and base in it. 



Influence of Time. 



Experiment 7. — A solution of the mixture of sodium sul- 

 phate and nitric acid was prepared from diluted ingredients. 

 It contained 1 grain of the mixture in 1550 grains of water, 

 audits average voltaic energy was =77,694 ; but after stand- 

 ing in a dark place during 72 hours at about 11° C. its energy 

 was 



Between 63,786 and 71,101 at 11° C. Average 67,443. 



After standing an additional 48 hours its energy was 



Between 57,407 and 63,786 at 12° C. Average 60,596. 



