250 



Dr. G. Gore. Influence of 



[Dec. 16, 



Agitation of the immersed metals is well known to influence the 

 current. Shaking one of the metals reversed occasionally the direc- 

 tion of the current ; palladium was the metal which most frequently 

 manifested this effect. The agitation of that metal rendered it either 

 more negative or less positive in a considerable degree, especially in 

 solutions of potassic chloride and cyanide. In those of the bromide, 

 antimony was the metal, the current from which was most affected 

 by shaking. The effect of shaking was less in the iodide solutions 

 than in those of the bromide. 



Note. — Some years ago I made a note as follows : "If water is 

 nearly saturated with a suitable salt at 15°C, and the upper part is 

 then kept hotter and the lower part colder than that temperature for 

 a long time, will the upper part become stronger and the lower 

 weaker ? " Recently, since this research was completed, the following 

 statements have been published: (see "Nature," vol. xxii, p. 356, 

 August 12, 1880, also vol.xxhi, p. 207, December 30,1880) "Influence 

 of Temperature on the Distribution of Salts in their Solutions," by 

 M. Soret. " The concentration of the heated part diminishes, that 

 of the cold increases. The difference grows with the original con- 

 centration, and nearly in proportion. In the series of the alkaline 

 chlorides the difference is greater (for the same concentration) the 

 higher the molecular weight of the salt. The phenomenon seems 

 to have no relation to solubility of the salt." If these statements are- 

 correct (as is very likely) they affect to a slight extent all the results 

 of the present research (and of other researches) on the thermo- 

 electric behaviour of solutions, because they show that the chemical 

 composition of the aqueous solution is slightly altered by the rise of 

 temperature. If also the strength of the thermo-electric currents of 

 liquids depends upon the degree of amplitude of vibration of the mole- 

 cules of the salt, &c. } in solution, it will probably vary, in the case of 

 solutions of alkaline chlorides, with the degree of concentration of the 

 solutions, and the molecular weights of the salts, like the phenomena 

 in M. Soret's experiments. 



VII. " Influence of Voltaic Currents on the Diffusion of Liquids." 

 By G. Gore, LL.D., F.R.S. Received December 1, 1880. 



(Abstract.) 



The subject of this paper is an investigation of the effects produced 

 by electric currents whilst passing through the surfaces of mutual 

 contact of two electrolytes lying upon each other. (See " Proc. Roy. 

 Soc," vol. 30, p. 322.) 



By an examination of about forty pairs of electrolytes of the most 

 varied kinds, including solutions of various mineral acids, acid salts, 



