472 
SIE B. C. BEODIE ON THE ACTION OE ELECTEICITY ON GASES. 
The mean of these experiments is distinctly higher than the mean T04 of the previous 
experiments with polysulphide of barium ; and while they point to the same general 
result, they also indicate the operation of a constant cause, causing a deviation in excess 
of the theoretical number 1. 
The action of ozone upon the hydrosulphide of sodium (Na IT S) appears to be of a 
different order. The following experiments were made with that substance at the tem- 
perature of the laboratory, which was about 20° C. The concentration of the solution 
in the five experiments severally commencing with experiment 1 was proportional to the 
numbers 1, 2, 4, 8, 16. The solution in experiment 5 was extremely concentrated. 
Experiments with Hydrosulphide of Sodium. 
Experiment. 
I. 
T. 
II. 
Y. 
III. 
v,. 
IV. 
Y— Y r 
V. 
Y— Vj 
T. 
1 . 
12-81 
273-10 
254-62 
18-47 
1-44 
2. 
12-81 
273-37 
253-19 
20-18 
1-57 
3. 
12-81 
273-74 
254-12 
19-62 
1-53 
4. 
12-81 
274-29 
252-71 
21-58 
1-68 
5. 
13-21 
272-28 
250-45 
21-83 
1-65 
Mean... 1-57 
These experiments, made with solutions of such very different degrees of concentration, 
are nearly uniform in their result ; at the same time they indicate a slight progression 
as the solution becomes more concentrated. An experiment made with a much 
weaker solution gave T21 for the value of -~ Vl , while with a solution half the strength 
of this last the ozone came through. Considering these experiments in connexion with 
those made with hydriodic acid at the temperature of 0° C. (Section III. p. 459), I am 
inclined to believe that the ratio 1-5 indicates a definite pause in the oxidation. I 
have not pursued this part of the subject further ; but I may mention that, in the case of 
two similar experiments made with the neutral sulphide of barium, T47 and T45 were 
obtained as the values of ; and in the case of one experiment with sulphide of 
potassium T62 was obtained for that value. 
It would be very desirable to determine not only the contraction which the electrized 
gas undergoes in its passage through these various solutions, but also the oxidation 
actually effected in them. In the case of hyposulphite of soda I have made various 
attempts, and in different ways, to determine this point ; but for some reason, which I 
do not quite understand, without satisfactory results, the different experiments not being 
so concordant as to be of much value : there can, however, be no reasonable doubt as 
to the amount of the oxidation effected — namely, that while the contraction is equal in 
amount to the “ titre ” of the gas, the oxidation is equal to twice that “ titre for 
