59 [162]

[Tthe first, second, and fourth paragraphs on this page are crossed out]

This evening I have made trial of muriatic acid beginning with half a drachm

10}.8000 2 34} ..5000 8

82 } .3169

8} 17}
26}

1 17} .6530 3 39} .4872 16 145}

1938

11} 19} 31}

1 23} .6087 3 -- 44} ..4654 24

203}.1707

14} 20.50} 35}

2 29} .5517 4 49 } .4387

16} 21.50}

In the discussion of these measures we still see the general law in operation that the
intensity rapidly diminishes as the acid is added though the entire quantity is
increased These observations were made very readily greatly more so than those
with nitric acid

On comparing the three foregoing tables it appears that nitric acid can drive with a
given pair 36 parts of electr with an intensity of 55 muriatic 29 parts & sulphuric 20
parts with the same intensity Hence of these three acids nitric acid is the most
powerful for it can drive a given quantity from a given surface with a high intensity
than either of the other two.
Jan 14. Repeated the concluding exp of last table
205} 0707

35}

265} 1320 added 1 dr. of nitric acid

35}

so that the addition of nitric to muriatic acid lowers the tension

Then to understand the effect of nitrosuphuric acid I began with pure water
and added know measures of sulp & nitric acids alternately
dr. Sulp ac. 23} .5652

13}

nitr. 53} .5094

27}

1 dr. Sulp ac. 72} .3888

28}

nitr ac. 94} .3510

33}

2 dr. Sulp ac. 178} .2360

42}

nitr ac.. 170} .2530

43}

Now on comparing this table with that for pure sulp acid it will appear that when
from the same surface 55 parts were presented by sulp acid the 27 wire carried only
21 But with nitrosulp acid of 53 parts 27 passed Again of 72 parts in both cases 22
were carried by sulp acid & 28 by nitrosulp etc etc the same observations being
conducted
60 [163]

[each Each paragraph on this page is crossed out]

Sulphate of Copper
33}.8181

27}

74}.6081

45}

116}.4741 10633}.4717

55} 50}

the last exp. I cannot certainly rely on for the needle would not give results twice
alike as appears on the repetition this was probably due to the metallic deposit
which took place upon the zinc and which was very copious & flocculent

It appears however that sulphate of copper give the most intense current yet
tried as appears from the following synopsis
Sulp cop 33 . 27| 74 . 45| 116 . 55

Nitric ac 36 . 20| . | 175 . 42

Mur ac 34 . 17| 82 . 26| 145 . 31

Sulp ac 39 . 17| 72 . 22| 118 . 26

Nitro Sulp ac . | 72 . 28| 178 . 42

Jan 15. So on making use of the these different agents it would appear that they can
generate currents of electricity equal in point of quantity but variable in point of
intensity from the same surface in the following order

Sulphate of Copper

Nitric acid

Nitrosulphuric acid

Muriatic acid

Sulphuric acid
Now on reviewing this table it would seem that the immediate reason of this rise in
tension is to be traced to the circumstance that these bodies furnish oxygen to the
nascent hydrogen and if the tension of the current is made to depend on the
tendency of zinc and oxygen to unite it is reasonable to suppose that the action of
which should correspond with and abet that of the zinc for oxygen This we do when
nitric acid or a salt easily decomposable is added to the solution the particle of
hydrogen no longer is directly evolved but meeting with oxygen almost in a free
state unites at once with it The tension of the current is no longer determined by the
affinity of zinc for oxygen but also by the difference of the affinity of hydrogen for
oxygen subtracted from the affinity of oxygen for the electropositive body in unison
with which it is presented Thus
61 [164]

[The top half of this page is crossed out]

let p represent the affinity of oxygen for hydrogen m the affinity of hydrogen for
zinc n the affinity of oxygen for zinc and x the tension of the current in the ordinary
battery then

x = n p - m.

Suppose now sulphate of copper be added new affinities ore brought in play let r be
the affinity of copper for oxygen s the affinity of hydrogen for copper then if the
foregoing equation represented the action of the zinc plate the action the copper
under these new conditions will be

X = p r s

But for all ordinary purposes m and s may be neglected they being exceedingly
small in comparison with n & r we may therefore assume the new current to be
represented in intensity by

(x + x) = n r

Or in other word its tension is determined by the difference of the affinities of zinc
and copper for oxygen and its tension is higher than the ordinary current in
proportion as

nr> np

I have examined the action that ensues when red oxide of lead is added to the
existing [?] sulphuric acid using 2drs of sup acid & 34 oz water it gave

1 72}.305 .

22?}

2 60} .4166 added red lead & kept constantly stirring

25}

3 59} repeated no 1
 23}

probably the last result is due to deposit of lead on the zinc plate It may be
observed fromt eh foregoing tables in corroboration of the view I here take that the
tension given by sulphate of copper is almost exactly double of that given by
sulphuric acid

Sulp cop 33 . 27 sulp ac. 33 . 14

74 . 45 74 . 22

116 . 55 118 . 26
62 [165]

[each Each paragraph on this page is crossed out]

(a) Sulp acid diluted cannot decompose water though it will decomp. Iodide of
potassium

(b) Strong sulp ac being in contact with the platina & common salt sol. with the zinc I
could not suceed in effecting the decomp of water owing [to] the mutual reaction of
the fluids

(c) Nitric acid on the platina salt sol zinc decompos. Ensured

The true action of sulphate of copper & nitric acid & metallic peroxide consists
therefore in the fact that without them

x = n +s - p m r and with them

x = n r

The leading quantity which has disappeared is therefore (p) the affinity of oxygen
and hydrogen for each other and the current will now express by its intensity the
affinity of zinc for oxygen minus the affinity of copper for oxygen Such a current
therefore may readily fail to decompose water

Let w represent the affinity of zinc from water oxygen Can the tension of
any arrangement in which water and zinc are the electromotors ever rise higher
than w It is obvious we may reduce the tension ad infinitum by conducting off
electricity freely and therefore enabling the zinc & oxygen to satisfy their affinity But
on the other hand the tension never can rise higher than w by obstructing the current
and hence the limit of Henrys coil but in the most perfect arrangement that we
possess there is a limit and no battery that we possess will decompose water except
under the condition w - r > p

If we were to exterminate r the tension of the resulting current ought to

become very high and this it appeared might be nearly effected by making use of a
platina plate instead of copper I have therefore this evening made the trial but in
the very outset met with a circumstance for which I was unprepared for it appeared
that a system of copper and zinc could give out far more electricity than zinc and
platina but the latter was immensely more intense I therefore executed the
measures carefully. Having amalgamated a strip of zinc an inch wide and nine
inches long I prepared a corresponding plate of copper & also one of platina and in
the trials fixed them at an invariable distance from each other and in the same solution
63 [166]

[this This page is not crossed out at all]

(a) pair Copper & Zinc 172} 1860

32}

(b) Pair Platina & Zinc 32} 5625.

18}

Now the first thing to be observed is that (a) gives out more than five time as much
electricity ad as (b) no other reason can be given for this than t he high conducting
power of the copper

Secondly if the platina acted simply as an obstacle the tension ought to have risen
just to the same point as though the solution had been diluted when (a) was used down
[?] to the point that only 32 could be evolved but inspecting [?] the table for
sulphuric acid it would seem not more than 13 should have passed there is
therefore a clear gain of 5

But how comes it to pass that the platina plate evolves so little Does conducting
power of the metals enter into the matter will not this explain the action of Wollastons
double coppers where the bottom of the zinc being cut off the quantity is vastly
increased by diminishing the resistance to tis motion

Jan 16th [1839]

To determine whether the nonconducting action of platinum affected the foregoing

case I passed the current from the copper this morning and found

Copper Pair 155} 2129

33}

then having put a pair of boxes on the ends of the platina I sent the curr foregoing
through it
150}
 33}

therefore the platina did not arrest on fifteenth part of the who current and as the
circumstance under which is was now placed were twice as unfavorable as those in
the the first experiment we therefore conclude that the great deficit of quantity is
not due to the non conducting power for that ought not to have lowered it more the
5/100 part but to some other unknown cause
64 [167]

[only Only paragraph #1 on this page is normal all following is crossed out]

It would seem that this peculiarity is entirely due the accumulation of gas on the
platina plate screening it For on making use of the very same plates and brushing
the platina continually with a feather there was no sort of difficulty in getting
deviations of higher sort as follows.
90}.2777

25}

100}.2700

27}

Copper gives off swarms of small bubbles & presents a surface continually clear.
Platina has them adhering to it & protecting it

Jan 17th. I have made today some unsatisfactory attempts to determine directly the
action of nitric acid by the use of the magnetic needle and voltameter conjointly
the results obtained would afford no conclusion and yet it is absolutely necessary
that the relation of the hydrogen should be determined Faraday says on
decomposing sulphuric acid diluted a quantity of oxygen disappears Binks that
when numerous alternations are employed the hydrogen lessens in amount at least
one third the study of these actions is of the utmost importance

Jan 18

Friday I succeeded to day perfectly with the foregoing by measuring the hydrogen
evolved and comparing it with the zinc dissolved taking two tubes one filled to a
given mark to serve as an areometer and producing gas to the corresponding mark
by the voltameter I began by adding sulp acid to water & when the results were
obtained commenced adding nitric as follows
Water Sulp acid Nitric acid Zinc dissolved

In the water in the water in grains

6 oz 1 dr 0 1.79

1.82

4 dr 0 1.75
 8 dr 0 1.84

8 1 dr 2.25

8 2 3.00

subsequently I found that the gas evolved would burn with a greenish white flame
and probably contained binoxide of nitrogen. So the hydrogen instead of being
evolved abstracted 2 g of oxygen from the nitric acid fully
65 [168]

[the The Jan 19th paragraph on this page is crossed out the rest is not]

confirming my supposition

Nitric acid therefore increases the tension of the current by presenting a new
affinity for hydrogen that otherwise would be evolved upon the platina plate

Jan 19th I have today been attempting the measure by Voltas method taking a
number of pair each one communicating with the next by a mercury cup
No 1 24 20}.3500

7 7}

2 31 31} .5806

18 18}

3 43 43} 5814 water does not decompose

25 25}

4 50 51} 6214 water decomposes slowly

31 32}

5 49 52} 6346 freely

32 33}

It is to be observed that the grand increase of intensity takes place on the addition of
the second and again on the fourth plate the successive measure are as follows
2 | 2300 | Second differences

3 | 2314 | 14

4 | 2774 | 460
 5 | 2846 | 72

here it is to be observed that the fifth increase is five times as much as the second
third and the second five times as much as the fourth

M 21st. The great irregularities observed in the foregoing method are due to
imperfections in the instrumental arrangement which it is almost impossible to
avoid But Voltas method like Henrys Hares and all other methods distinctively shew
that there is no known method of increasing the tension save at the sacrifice of
quantity and the most prominent question to be settled is the law under which this
takes place

I shall make the attempt with Daniels constant battery and shall first
endeavour to ascertain the state of the current as it flows along the wires which I
use.

2nd Lenz law of the conductibility of wires

3rd rise of tension on putting on different wires.

Firstly as respects the action of the instrument and its wire I passed the current
through a long wire 1/5 in diameter
66 [169]

[Tthe lower half of this page crossed out, beginning with To determine]

of the same that I used for pole wire and feet long the deviation of the needle
was the same 47.50 degrees whether it came through the long wire or not.
Therefore I assume that for in all the ensuring trials the pole wires transmitted all
that the battery could generate.

Investigation of Lenzs Law in the case of

Copper Iron Wire.

No 1

Battery Current Cal

77. 78.12

Length of wire in feet | Calcul.| Deviations Loss.

84 constant 2981 | 25.50 | 23.50 53.50

72 x=1274 2572 | 27.30 | 26 51

60 2159 | 30.56 | 29 48

48 1513 | 35.06 | 35 42

24 854 | 48.50 | 47 30

12 392 | 60 | 60 17

6 196 | 68 | 68 9.

This was fine copper wire one foot of which weighted grs it was spun with silk.

To determine whether the wires being coiled as spiral had any disturbance
impressed on them by the coiling I took the wire 48 feet long it gave a deviation of
35. Then I coiled it round a card, so as to make 155 circumvolutions but the
deviation as still 35.

No 2. Battery Current 92} Tension

 53} .5760

Length in feet Deviation Tension Loss

6 78} .6025 14

47}

12 65} .6461 27

42}

24 52} .6923 40

36}

36 42} .7381 50

31}

48 here the B current was found 90 34.50} .7823

55.50

27}

60 31} .7742 59

24}

72 27} .7963 63

21.50}

84 23.50} .8510 66.50

20}

Battery current at the close. 90} .5777

52}
67 [170]

[The first two and last paragraphs of this page are crossed out]

Now as respects this table the first thing we have to observe is that the conducting
power of wire does not follow the law of Lenz. For the loss on a wire three times the
length of the first not triple etc. etc.

The explanation of this is very simple as the quantity is stopped the tension rises
and therefore the source of electricity is in a perpetual state of mutation although it is a
constant battery As the tension rises more electricity relatively is enabled to pass
the wire And for this reason alone all experiments have failed to detect the true law
of the conductibility of wires.

But from the foregoing one can also deduce the Law of Electric tension The
original Quantity is 92. The half of which is 46 and the fourth thereof 23. Of the
first and last of these numbers the very nearly the intensity tension has is gotten by
observation the intensity tension of the second may be approximately determined
from the mean tension of the third and fourth they stand thus
Quantity Tension

92 .5769 Difference

46 .7152 1392

23 .8510 2750

of these differences the first is half the second and is produced by the loss of half the
quantity lost in the second going to shew

That the tension or Elastic force of a given Quantity of electricity is inversely

as its volume Jan 21st 1839.

No 3. Battery current 82} 5853

48}

Length in feet DeviationTension Loss.

36 40} .7312 42

29.25}

90 20.50} .8414 61.50

 17.25}

200 10.25} .9024 71.75

9.25}
68 [171]

[the The bottom half of this page is crossed out beginning with But here]

No 4. Battery current 70} 6444

45}

Length in feet Deviation Tension Loss.

36 37} .7567 33

28}

90 21} .8572 49

18}

200 11.50} .9132 58.50

10.50}

by the time the second observation was executed the battery current was found to
have declined to 69.

Jan 24th From the foregoing tables it will appear that the law supposed to exist in
the preceding page in relation to the ratio of Quantity and intensity does not in
reality apply

I have vainly tried to find other laws which might reach the case No 3 & No 4
would give results not far from those calculated by assuming that the increase of tension
was inversely as the square roots of the quantities disappearing. But a former table on the
Thermal electricity by reduplicated numbers would give results very different from those
calculated Hence I am constrained to suppose that there is not constant law that
can be detected in the case.

But here a very remarkable analogy may be traced Lane, Harris, and a great
many other observers have shewn that the tension of electricity from the common
machine compared with the quantity follows the law which is followed under
analogous circumstances by ponderable elastic fluids viz that their tension of a given
quantity is inversely as its volume but the foregoing tables prove that this law is
widely departed from in the case of that low tension developed by a single pair of
plates no regular rule whatever being followed And the very same thing happens in
the case of the ponderable elastic fluids which as they approach the point of
liquefaction under seven pressures no longer follow Marriotes Law Were we to
regard electricity as a vapour given off from a fluid generated as it were and arising
from the surface of the zinc plate and expanding into the wire as into a resisting
medium we should find that with laws which under that supposition ought to have
place really do have place
69 [172]

[only Only one section of math on this page is crossed out]

In the hope of finding a corroboration for all the foregoing measures of intensity I
have been attempting to pass the discharge in a torricellian void from an iron wire
to the mercurial surface It was very small & so far as I could see did not strike at an
observably greater distance than in atmospheric air The thermal current from pallad &
platina gave no light

March 25th Let us examine more minutely the conditions of the action of a
conducting wire by following out the reasoning of Lenzs paper.

1st The resistance of a wire is inversely proportional to its conductibility

2nd The (force of current) intensity is as the electromotive power directly and the
resistance of the entire circuit inversely

3rd The intensity therefore is as the electromotive power directly and the sum of the
resistances of the connecting wire and the battery inversely

4th The resistance of any wire is as the electrom. power directly the intensity
inversely minus the resistance of the battery

Now the electromotive power of any pair is obviously the product of the quantity
that pair can generate and its tension Therefore

F = q t / C + that is

The intensity for any given wire is as the quantity & tension of the electromotive
source directly and the sum of the resistances of the electrom. & given wire inversely

26th In the method which I have been employing to measure the tension two currents
are to be compared together it is therefore essentially a relative method and to
effect this they are mutually compared with a third thus
b/a : c/a : d/a etc = t : t : t etc

now these may be written

 A/C A/C+ A/C+ 1 A/C+ 2 . . . = t : t : t

a/b : a/c : a/d . . . = t : t : t

which may be written

A A A
___________ : _________ : __________ . . . . . . . = t : t : t
C+ +k C+ +k C+ +k
___________ __________ __________
A A A
_________ _________ ________
C+ C+ 1 C+ 2

the principle on which my calculations have proceeded is that

a/b = t/1
on that the principle of the quotient of the right left hand member is the amount per
cent of the current that could pass a secondary wire.