54 
MR. GROVE ON THE EFFECT OF 
of liquid, I have not thought it worth while to go through the series a second time. 
It will be observed, that the effects with the above liquids are by no means in direct 
relation with their respective specific heats ; but in order to bring the results of the 
experiments with liquids into comparison with those with gases, I now associated a 
gas with a liquid, viz. hydrogen with water. All things being disposed as before, 
the tube A was filled with hydrogen gas, the tube B with water, both being immersed 
in three ounces of water. The thermometer rose in five minutes — 
In hydrogen. 
From 60° to 75°-5. 
In water. 
From 60° to 72° 
This experiment of itself conclusively negatives the possibility of specific heat alone 
accounting for the phenomenon under consideration ; and though, doubtless, specific 
heat must have some influence on the cooling effects of different gases and liquids, 
yet in the former it is apparently of very trifling import in comparison with the real 
physical cause of the differences, whatever that may be. 
Supposing, as is stated by Faraday*, -that gases possess feeble conducting powers 
for voltaic electricity, and supposing hydrogen, from its close analogy in chemical 
character to the metals, to possess a greater conducting power than the other gases, 
this would account for its peculiar effect on the ignited wire, as a certain portion of 
the current, instead of forcing its way through the wire, would be carried off by the 
surrounding gas. In order to ascertain this I arranged the following experiments. 
1st. Into the closed end of a bent tube, fig. 2, a loop 
of platinum wire, A B, and two separate platinum 
wires C D, were hermetically sealed, the extremities 
of the latter being approximated as closely as pos- 
sible, and the interval between them being close to 
and immediately over the apex of the loop. The tube 
was filled with hydrogen, and the wire A B connected 
with a voltaic battery of sufficient power to raise it to 
as high a degree of ignition as it would bear without 
fusion ; C and D were now connected with the poles 
of another battery, a delicate galvanometer being 
interposed in the circuit. Not the slightest effect on the galvanometer needle could 
be detected, and a similar negative effect took place when the tube was filled with 
atmospheric air. 
2nd. Parallel portions of platinum wire were now arranged in close proximity (see 
fig. 3.), and so that each might be ignited to a full incandescence by separate insulated 
batteries. When surrounded by atmospheres, both of atmospheric air and of hydro- 
gen and fully ignited, not the slightest conduction could be detected, across the 
interval between the wires, with ten cells of the nitric acid battery, and being enabled 
* Experimental Researches, §§ 272, 441 and 444. 
