. Electricity simplified. The practice and theory of electricity ... Fig. 11.—Theoretical Polarization and Decomposition of Moleculesop Water. may he collected, if desired, in separate tubes orvessels, as shown. Although the water preparedfor the experiment is a conductor, and can act assuch with low potential difference, if the potentialdifference passes a certain point, absolutely fixed forwater as well as for other compounds, but differingfor each specific decomposition more or less, it actsas an electrolyte, and conducts electrolytically only;it ceases to act as a common conductcr. The vol
. Electricity simplified. The practice and theory of electricity ... Fig. 11.—Theoretical Polarization and Decomposition of Moleculesop Water. may he collected, if desired, in separate tubes orvessels, as shown. Although the water preparedfor the experiment is a conductor, and can act assuch with low potential difference, if the potentialdifference passes a certain point, absolutely fixed forwater as well as for other compounds, but differingfor each specific decomposition more or less, it actsas an electrolyte, and conducts electrolytically only;it ceases to act as a common conductcr. The vol- 72 ELECTRICITY SIMPLIFIED. nme of gases given off is exactly proportional to thequantity of electricity passed by the current. By carrying out the decomposition in a closedvessel the gases will be set free and will accumulate. Fig. 12.—Decomposition op Water by the to Current. under pressure. The most enormous pressures canthus be developed by the silent and unseen agency ofthe current. Two common gravity cells such as usedin a telegraph office could burst a cannon decomposition is called electrolysis, and the ELECTROPLATING. 73 immersed plates or ends are called electrodes. Theplate attracting the oxygen is called the anode, theone attracting the hydrogen is called the the nomenclature is rather cumbrous, and notvery easy to remember. The same principles carried out for other chemi-cals brings about other decompositions. A solutionof copper sulphate gives copper to the cathode andsulphuric acid to the anode. Silver cyanide in solu-tion gives silver to the cathode, and the decomposi-tion of an immense number of compounds have beenelaborately investigated with regard to their heat ofcombination and decomposition, which are equal andequivalents, or rather reciprocals, of each o
Size: 1596px × 1566px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidel, booksubjectelectricity
