W. G. Mixter — Electrosynthesis. 219 



With solution of KOH. With solid KOH. 



Exp. 1 2-79 cc combined. 2*63 cc combined. 



" 2 ._ 6-30 " 6*64 " 



These results show that the presence of a solution does not 

 influence the rate of change produced by the current through 

 hydrogen and oxygen. 



For a time the coil used gave a feeble and intermittent glow 

 in one eudiometer and a fairly steady one in the other. Upon 

 changing the direction of the primary current these effects 

 were frequently reversed. The intermittent discharge in a 

 eudiometer caused less oxygen and hydrogen to unite than the 

 steady discharge. Moreover, the rate of combination was 

 much slower than had been obtained in previous experiments 

 with the same coil actuated by the same current. Two other 

 smaller coils which have been in the chemical laboratory many 

 years gave the same abnormal results. An examination of the 

 first coil mentioned showed that some of the connections were 

 corroded. When put in order it gave good results again. 

 Later a new and larger coil yielding a 4-inch spark was used 

 with satisfactory results, the break being adjusted to give a 

 spark of 1 to 2 centimeters. 



A number of experiments were tried with hydrogen and 

 oxygen at widely different pressures in the two eudiometers to 

 find if there is any simple relation between the rate of combi- 

 nation and pressure. The results, however, only confirm the 

 statement in the first paper that the higher the pressure the 

 more rapid the combination. 



In the previous paper allusion was made to the fact, when 

 the eudiometers were near together and the coil was connected 

 with only one of them, that a glow sometimes appeared in the 

 other. To find if combination occurs under such conditions 

 one eudiometer containing oxygen and hydrogen under a pres- 

 sure of 10-9 mm was placed 6 centimeters from the other eudi- 

 ometer containing air at a pressure of 3 mm . The two were 

 insulated by wood and glass. The mercury in the trough of 

 the one containing air and the water in the tube A were con- 

 nected with the coil actuated by a current of 3 amperes. The 

 discharge was brilliant and striated, and caused a distinct glow 

 in the oxygen and hydrogen visible in a dark room when the 

 light of the other tube was shut off by a screen of black paper. 

 The glow was much brighter on the side towards the screened 

 tube. After two hours the pressure had fallen 2"3 mm , and the 

 gas, which was originally r64 cc , was reduced to l'32 cc , the water 

 formed being taken up by solid potassium hydroxide. When 

 the eudiometers were 13 centimeters apart the combination 

 was perceptible but much slower. It is evident that a very 

 feeble electric action causes the oxidation of hydrogen, and 



