one-sided pressure on the various constituent parts would in most cases act with unequal force, and sometimes even in contrary direction, and must thus excite a tendency in them to separate from one another. From this consideration results a distinct activity of the circuit, tending to produce a chemical change in its parts, which I have termed its decomposing force, and I have endeavoured to determine its magnitude for each particular case. This determination is independent of the mode, in which the electricity may be conceived to be asssociated with the atoms.[1] Granting, which seems to be most natural, that the electricity is diffused proportionately to the mass over the space which these bodies then occupy, a complete analysis will show that the decomposing force of the circuit is in direct proportion to the energy of the current, and, moreover, that it depends on a coefficient, to be derived from the nature of the constituent parts and their chemical equivalents. From the nature of this decomposing force of the circuit, which is of equal energy at all places of an homogeneous portion, it directly follows, that when it is capable of overcoming, under all circumstances, the reciprocal connexion of the constituent parts, the separation and abduction of the constituents to both sides of the circuit are limited solely by mechanical obstacles; but if the connexion of the constituent parts inter se, either immediately at the commencement everywhere, or in the course of the action anywhere, overcome the decomposing force of the circuit, then from that time no further movement of the elements can take place. This general description of the decomposing force is in accordance with the experiments of Davy and others.
There is a peculiar state which seems to be produced in most cases of the separation of the two elements of a chemically compound liquid, which is especially worthy of attention, and which is caused in the following manner. When the decomposition is confined solely to a limited portion of the circuit, and the constituent parts of the one kind are propelled towards the one side of this part, and the constituent parts of the other kind to its opposite side, then, for this very reason, a natural limit is prescribed to the action; for the constituent
- ↑ I shall shortly have occasion to speak of the peculiar import of this remark, when I shall attempt to reduce the actions of the parts of a galvanic circuit on one another, as discovered by Ampère, to the usual electrical attractions and repulsions.
