Voltaic Electricity on Alcohol, fyc. 345 



evolved in the case of solutions of the haloid salts also, are second- 

 ary products, and that the hydrogen arises from the direct de- 

 composition of water. 



A rather weak solution of chloride of potassium was placed 

 in a tube of the same size as before, and distilled water in an- 

 other similar tube, its level being a little higher than that of the 

 saline liquid, and the connexion made by moistened asbestus. 

 The saline solution was then made negative, and the water posi- 

 tive, by a power of fifty pairs of two-inch plates. Gas appeared 

 in one or two minutes from both poles. In half an hour, not the 

 least trace of chlorine could be detected in either tube by the 

 smell or by any bleaching action on test-paper. The battery was 

 then reversed. An effervescence took place from the negative 

 pole, but none from the positive, and in half an hour more, not- 

 withstanding the diminished action of the battery, a faint odour 

 of chlorine was discerned. 



In a repetition of the experiment connecting the solution 

 of chloride of potassium with the negative side, and the water 

 with the positive, gas soon appeared as before from both poles, 

 and alkali was very soon afterwards detected on touching the ne- 

 gative foil with test paper, and acid on touching the asbestus on 

 the positive side of the negative tube, shewing that acid was tra- 

 velling towards the water in the positive tube ; but no smell of 

 chlorine was detected. In twenty minutes a doubtful trace of 

 acid was found in the positive liquid, but still no trace of chlo- 

 rine. In two and a half hours the trace of acid in the positive 

 tube was still slight, and a very doubtful trace of the odour of 

 chlorine observed. In seven hours an acid reaction and a feeble 

 odour of chlorine were quite manifest in the positive liquid ; but 

 not the slightest trace of chlorine in the negative tube. 



In these experiments it is manifest, that when the saline so- 

 lution was negative and the water positive, chlorine was not 

 liberated until acid had passed into the positive tube, so as to en- 

 able the oxygen there evolved to occasion the appearance of the 



