Quantity of Electric Force in Matter 167

tain a platina wire rj Tth of an inch in thickness, red hot, in con-
tact with the air, for three minutes and three-quarters (588); a
quantity which is almost infinitely greater than that which
could be evolved by the little standard voltaic arrangement to
which I have just referred (595, 107). I have endeavoured to
make a comparison by the loss of weight of such a wire in a
given time in such an acid, according to a principle and experi-
ment to be almost immediately described (597); but the pro-
portion is so high that I am almost afraid to mention it. It
would appear that 800,000 such charges of the Leyden battery
as I have referred to above, would be necessary to supply
electricity sufficient to decompose a single grain of water; or,
if I am right, to equal the quantity of electricity which is
naturally associated with the elements of that grain of water,
endowing them with their mutual chemical affinity.

597. In further proof of this high electric condition of the
particles of matter, and the identity as to quantity of that be-
longing to them with that necessary for their separation) I will
describe an experiment of great simplicity but extreme beauty,
when viewed in relation to the evolution of an electric current
and its decomposing powers.

598. A dilute sulphuric acid, made by adding about one part
by measure of oil of vitriol to thirty parts of water, will act
energetically upon a piece of zinc plate in its ordinary and
simple state: but, as Mr. Sturgeon has shown,1 not at all, or
scarcely so, if the surface of the metal has in the first instance
been amalgamated; yet the amalgamated zinc will act power-
fully with platina as an electromotor, hydrogen being evolved
on the surface of the latter metal, as the zinc is oxidised and
dissolved. The amalgamation is best effected by sprinkling a
few drops of mercury upon the surface of the zinc, the latter
being moistened with the dilute acid, and rubbing with the
fingers or tow so as to extend the liquid metal over the whole
of the surface. Any mercury in excess, forming liquid drops
upon the zinc, should be wiped oft".2

599. Two plates of zinc thus amalgamated were dried and
accurately weighed; one, which we will call A, weighed 163.1
grains; the other, to be called B, weighed 148.3 grains. They

1 Recent Experimental Researches, etc., 1830, p. 74, etc.

2 The experiment may be made with pure zinc, which, as chemists well
know, is but slightly acted upon by dilute sulphuric acid in comparison
with ordinary zinc, which during the action is subject to an infinity of
voltaic actions. See De la Rive on this subject, BibHotheque Universellet
1830, p. 391-iscovered by Volta.and the larger wires communicating with it be