ELECTROLYSIS OF SECONDARY COMPOUNDS. 
19 
In these compound anions and cations, it would appear that the oxygen which 
travels with the acid group, and the hydrogen which is evolved with the alkaline 
group, must be connected with the other elements whilst under the influence of the 
current in a manner differing from that in which the latter are combined together; for 
we have found that in most cases this connection is immediately dissolved upon their 
escape from the electric influence, whilst in some others their apparent permanent 
combination is only the effect of secondary action, where the oxygen is capable of 
forming a chemical compound of a higher degree of oxygenation, and like other 
secondary actions of a similar nature, is variable in its amount. 
8. The disengagement of the cation and anion of an electrolyte in equivalent pro- 
portions is not always effected, as is commonly represented, by their simultaneous 
transfer in opposite directions to their respective electrodes, in the exact proportion 
of half an equivalent of each ; but is sometimes brought about by the transfer of a 
whole equivalent of the anion to the zincode, whereby a whole equivalent of the 
cation is left uncombined at the platinode ; or by transfer of unequivalent portions of 
each in opposite directions, making however together a whole equivalent of matter 
transferred to one electrode or the other ; or speaking more correctly, by the transfei' 
of a quantity of matter capable of exerting one equivalent of chemical force , so that 
when the anion transferred to the zincode exceeds half an equivalent, the cation trans- 
ferred to the platinode is in an equal proportion less than half an equivalent, and 
vice versa ; the anion and cation set free being always in equivalent proportions. We 
have, however, in no case observed the transfer of a whole equivalent of the cation to 
the exclusion of the anion. 
These facts are, we believe, irreconcilable with any of the molecular hypotheses 
which have hitherto been imagined to account for the phenomena of electrolysis, nor 
have we anything more satisfactory at present to substitute for them ; we shall there- 
fore prefer leaving them to the elucidation of further investigation, to adding one 
more to the already too numerous list of hasty generalizations. 
