234 
VELOCITY OF IONS IN GASES. 
to their motion. So if the charges are equal in the moist gases, they should be equal 
in the dry gases also. 
The values of Ne for carbonic acid are all less than that obtained for hydrogen by 
electrolysis, and so indicate a smaller charge on the ions ; but from analogy with 
liquids we should expect that if the charges vary at all, it would be in the ratio of 
one to two or more, unless it is possible to have a charge smaller than that carried by 
hydrogen in electrolysis. 
The writer cannot account for the differences in the values of Ne by supposing 
them due to errors in the ionic velocities obtained, since that would mean the pre¬ 
sence in the experiments of some error which in some cases influenced the results 
for the positive ions alhne, in other cases had an effect upon the values of both of 
the ions, and in still other cases was without effect. 
The experiments described in this paper were performed at the Cavendish Labo¬ 
ratory, Cambridge, and I desire to express here my thanks to Professor J. J. Thom¬ 
son for the encouragement and valuable suggestions given in the course of the 
investigation. 
