CHEMISTRY: BAXTER AND HARTMANN 
27 
For the electrolytic deposition of the metal the special form of cell 
shown in the figure was designed. In this cell both the cathode A and 
the anode B were fused into the glass and weighed with the cell, in order 
that any metal dissolved from the anode during electrolysis might im- 
mediately be deposited upon the cathode. This made it possible to 
electrolyze the chloride solution directly without pre- 
vious removal of the chlorine. Another advantage of 
this form of cell Hes in the possibihty of introducing 
bodily the boat in which the salt was fused prepara- 
tory to weighing, so that no quantitative transference 
of solution was necessary. The mercury and the amal- 
gams were prepared for weighing by washing with water 
and alcohol and drying in a high vacuum. Spurting 
of the amalgams out of the cell during the drying was 
prevented by the specially constructed stopper C, which 
was always weighed with the cell. 
Blank determinations in which hydrochloric acid solu- 
tions were electrolyzed showed that the cell with a charge 
of mercury could be depended on to remain constant in 
weight. Furthermore, no evidence could be found of 
appreciable oxidation of the amalgams. 
The experimental procedure of an analysis was as 
follows: The cadmium chloride, in a quartz boat con- 
tained in a quartz tube, was heated in a current of pure 
dry hydrochloric acid gas, gently at first so as to expel 
as much as possible of the water at a low tempera- 
ture, but finally for some minutes at the fusing-point. 
After the tube had been allowed to cool, the hydro- 
chloric acid was displaced by pure dry nitrogen, which 
was in turn displaced by dry air. Then the boat was transferred to the 
weighing bottle, in which it was originally weighed, by means of a 
'botthng apparatus, without exposure to moisture, and weighed. 
Next the boat was inserted in the cell, in which it was supported upon 
the anode. The weighing bottle was rinsed, and the rinsings were used 
to dissolve the salt in the cell. For the purpose of retaining spray 
formed during the electrolysis, a column of bulbs, which had been ground 
into the mouth of the cell, was inserted. Electrolysis was then com- 
menced, at first with a current of about 0.5 ampere. Later, when the 
greater part of the cadmium had been deposited, the current-strength 
was increased until finally the eight storage cells used as the source of 
electricity were short-circuited through the cell. The whole operation ex- 
