50 
REPORT—1847. 
taken into the system. This latter result falls far short of that indicatri ioBui 
Liebig’s work, where it is made to amount to nearly H ounces daily. 
3fr. Faraday e.xhibitcd at the Section certain spedroeni of diamond, ^ 
in number, which he had received from M. Dutnas for that purpose, aid tu4W 
change is .^’SCS, after its conversion into coke 2’t}7rft. Uhen sodtmitlieeii* 
still scratchea or cuts glass, but ita tfoheaioii is diirumahed so that it bnUi w"® 
the fingers. See the Comples Rendus, 1847, sxiv. 1050. 
On a ncio and practical Voltaic Battery of the highest poicert rt 
Potassium fomts the positive elemnU By Johx GooovAii. 
In pursuing researches into the identity of the various 
light, heat, electricity, &c., the author devised several experiments with me 
tion of constructing a voltaic arrangement in which potassium should form 
tive dement, being at the same time a metal possessing powers of Uewp® 
chemical tia well os the most intensely electrical nature. . ^ 
The result of many fruicleas attempts was the proclucliou of au 
which a membrane was interposed between the potassium and the 
which prodaced a quiet and very manageable voltaic ajmbination. 
A snioil glass tube was ciused at its lower end by a meinbraae of 
The tube was filled with mineral naphtha, and its lower «id was iDB€rted ib * ^ 
•ciiution of sulphate of copper in a winc'giass. A small piece of 
screwed upon the end of a piece of copper wire against a button of * 
u,,uu i.itc vuu ui a piece oi copper wjre agaiusi » Kuiiv.* 
near its extremity. The metal was then introduced so as to rest 
broiic, upon which a globule of mercury had been previously placed for i 
roatioD. 
roatioD. ^ 
C 
All nM*Paafl,-<t ,.r>nn... 1....... __ _ r. _ J fViA n,\<acaiiim ADO I-. 
the supernataot fluid when required to be out of action. 
»V ith tills single voltaic pair a current of 50® was exhibited by a p 

oix pairs prcHlucid a very aalUfactory deflection. Afterwaras u« 
thre« am) loro nnii-d ..i . .1 ..„i. .T>aesiirnbic 
that ehemicnl affinity and liecitical energy are one and the same ihinS' 
•^ce which possesaes the highest chemical affioitvmauifesls also the » # 
clwncal energy or tension ; and the general results in this ' 
T* clecUical energy of substances is at all times proportional to the 
cheoucal forces. 
The author suggests that it is tin? polar condition of bodies th* 
^ 1 ‘y electric /oree—wbich in both instances ^ s *■* 
e^icU chomical or electrical action in proiiortioin to its intensity- 
the quantity uf fora- which induces the phamomena of exalted rfn* 
a'-i powers of ordinary electricity in comparisoa wit 
n-k** '1.U *'®^'"'‘^hstanUiug the limited quantitv of the former. , 1 . 
ibe author has frequently decomposed water in four successive cel« • 
