284 
DR. RITCHIE’S EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES 
the zinc plate, the molecules of water must turn round their axes till the defi¬ 
nite arrangement of the particles again take place. This revolution of the 
particles of water must obviously produce, by induction, a similar revolution 
of the molecules of the electric fluid round the distinct elementary particles of 
which the metallic conductor is composed, agreeably to the ingenious theory 
of M. Ampere. 
From this view of the subject, it is obvious that whatever will render the 
water more easily decomposed will also increase the power of the voltaic ar¬ 
rangement. If the temperature of water be raised, the attraction between its 
molecules will be diminished; it will therefore become more fluid, its mole¬ 
cules will be turned round with a smaller force, and arrange themselves in the 
definite order which seems essential to voltaic action. Again: strong sulphuric 
acid is an imperfect conductor; pure water is also a bad conductor; but if they 
be mixed together, we get a liquid of high conducting powers. Now, accord¬ 
ing to the theory of an actual transfer of electric fluid, this is exceedingly my¬ 
sterious; but is a necessary consequence of the view now given. When water 
is mixed with sulphuric acid, the attraction between its own molecules must 
be diminished, and consequently acidulated water will be more easily decom¬ 
posed than pure water, and will consequently produce more powerful effects 
when placed between the copper and zinc plates in a voltaic arrangement. 
6. If this view of the subject be correct, it follows that all liquids whose 
component parts go to the same pole, are non-conductors of voltaic electricity. 
Oils, resinous substances, melted camphor, caoutchouc, &c. are hence non-con¬ 
ductors. The liquified gases, examined by Mr. Kemp, submit to the same 
law. Liquified sulphurous acid is a good conductor, because oxygen and sul¬ 
phur, its component parts, go to opposite poles. Liquified ainmoniacal gas 
is doubtful as to its conducting power. Hydrogen goes decidedly to the 
negative pole, but nitrogen seems doubtful to which pole it belongs; and hence 
Mr. Kemp, without any view of supporting a favourite theory, could not de¬ 
termine with certainty whether this substance was a conductor, or not. It ob¬ 
viously follows from this view of conduction, that all simple substances (except 
the metals,) in a fluid state are essentially non-conductors. When liquified chlo¬ 
rine was submitted to the same test, it was found to be a perfect non-conductor. 
This affords another beautiful illustration of the simple nature of chlorine. 
