C 4 2 7 H 
XXII. Experiments on the chemical Production and Agency of 
Electricity. By William Hyde Wollaston, M. D. F. R. S. 
Read June 25, 1801. 
Notwithstanding the power of Mr. Volta’s electric pile is 
now known to be proportional to the disposition of one of the 
metals to be oxidated by the fluid interposed, a doubt has been 
entertained by many persons, whether this power arises from 
the chemical action of the fluid on the ‘metal, or, on the con- 
trary, whether the oxidation itself may not be occasioned by 
electricity, set in motion by the contact of metals that have dif- 
ferent conducting powers.' 
That the oxidation of the metal is the primary cause of the 
electric phsenomena observed, is, I think, to be inferred from 
the following experiments, which exhibit the Galvanic process 
reduced to its most simple state. 
Exper. 1. If a piece of zinc and a piece of silver have each 
one extremity immersed in the same vessel, containing sul- 
phuric or muriatic acid diluted with a large quantity of water, 
the zinc is dissolved, and yields hydrogen gas, by decomposition 
of the water : the silver, not being acted upon, has no power of 
decomposing water ; but, whenever the zinc and silver are made 
to touch, or any metallic communication is made between them, 
hydrogen gas is also formed at the surface of the silver. 
Any other metal beside zinc, which by assistance of the 
acid employed is capable of decomposing water, will succeed 
3 1 2 
