182 Faraday's Researches

means of determining relative degrees of intensity with accuracy
in future researches.

645. I have already expressed the view which I take of the
decomposition in the experimental place, as being the direct
consequence of the superior exertion at some other spot of the
same kind of power as that to be overcome, and therefore as
the result of an antagonism of forces of the same nature (626,
639). Those at the place of decomposition have a re-action
upon, and a power over, the exerting or determining set pro-
portionate to what is needful to overcome their own power;
and hence a curious result of resistance offered by decompo-
sitions to the original determining force, and consequently to
the current. This is well shown in the cases where such bodies
as chloride of lead, iodide of lead., and water would not decom-
pose with the current produced by a single pair of zinc and
platina plates in sulphuric acid (638), although they would with
a current of higher intensity produced by stronger chemical
powers. In such cases no sensible portion of the current
passes (702); the action is stopped; and I am now of opinion
that in the case of the law of conduction which I described in
the second part of these Researches (149), the bodies which
are electrolytes in the fluid state cease to be such in the solid
form, because the attractions of the particles by which they are
retained in combination and in their relative position, are then
too powerful for the electric current. The particles retain
their places; and as decomposition is prevented, the transmis-
sion of the electricity is prevented also; and although a battery
of many plates may be used, yet if it be of that perfect kind
which allows of no extraneous or indirect action (736), the
whole of the affinities concerned in the activity of that battery
are at the same time also suspended and counteracted.

646. But referring to the resistance of each single case of
decomposition, it would appear that as these differ in force
according to the affinities by which the elements in the substance
tend to retain their places, they also would supply cases con-
stituting a series of degrees by which to measure the initial
intensities of simple voltaic or other currents of electricity, and
which, combined with the scale of intensities determined by
different degrees of acting force (644), would probably include
a sufficient set of differences to meet almost every important

, case where a reference to intensity would be required.

647. According to the experiments I have already had occa-
, sion to make, I find that the following bodies are electrolyticby a platina (or any other) wire for a second or two, and then