Constant Chemical Action of Electricity 65

no constant expression can be given as to the action upon a
single particle placed in the course of the current, nor any
conclusion of use, relative to the supposed attractive or repulsive
force of the poles,, be drawn. The force will vary as the distance
from the pole varies; as the particle is directly between the
poles, or more or less on one side; and even as it is nearer to
or further from the sides of the containing vessels, or as the
shape of the vessel itself varies; and, in fact, by making varia-
tions in the form of the arrangement, the force upon any single
particle may be made to increase, or diminish, or remain constant,
whilst the distance between the particle and the pole shall remain
the same; or the force may be made to increase, or dimmish,
or remain constant, either as the distance increases or as it
diminishes.

.240. From numerous experiments, I am led to believe the
following general expression to be correct; but I purpose
examining it much further, and would therefore wish not to be
considered at present as pledged to its accuracy. The sum of
chemical decomposition is constant for any section taken across
a decomposing conductor, uniform in its nature, at whatever
distance the poles may be from each other or from the section;
or however that section may intersect the currents, whether
directly across them, or so oblique as to reach almost from pole
to pole, or whether it be plane, or curved, or irregular in the
utmost degree; provided the current of electricity be retained
constant in quantity (113), and that the section passes through
every part of the current through the decomposing conductor.

241. I have reason to believe that the statement might be
made still more general, and expressed thus: That for a constant
quantity of electricity, whatever the decomposing conductor may bey
whether water, saline solutions, acids, fused bodies, etc., the amount
of electro-chemical action is also a constant quantity, i.e. would
always be equivalent to a standard chemical effect founded upon
ordinary chemical affinity. I have this investigation in hand,
with several others, and shall be prepared to give it in the next
part but one of these Researches.

242. Many other arguments might be adduced against the
hypotheses of the attraction of the poles being the cause of
electro-chemical decomposition; but I would rather pass on to
the view I have thought more consistent with facts, with this
single remark; that if decomposition by the voltaic battery
depended upon the attraction of the poles, or the parts about
them, being stronger than the mutual attraction of the particlest of these Researches.pouring a little water in at the top of this vessel