VI. On the electrical discharge in vacuo with an extended series of the voltaic battery

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Royal Society 1860
• Subjects: Carbonic acid
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspl.1859.0016; https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspl.1859.0016

In a recent communication, since ordered for publication in the Philosophical Transactions, I described some experiments on the electrical discharge in a vacuum obtained by the absorption of carbonic acid with caustic potassa, and I showed that, when the discharge from an induction coil was passed through such a vacuum, the stratifications became altered in character and appearance as the potassa was more or less heated. I have also in a former paper (Phil. Trans. 1858, p. 1) shown that the stratified discharge can be obtained from the electrical machine. A description of an extended series of a water-battery was communicated by me as far back as December 1843 (Phil. Trans. 1844, p. 39). This battery consists of 3520 insulated cells : some years had elapsed since it was last charged, and I found the zincs were very much oxidated on again charging it with rain-water, I ascertained that there was sufficient tension to give a constant succession of minute sparks between two copper discs attached to the terminals of the battery, and placed about ⅛th of an inch apart. On attaching the terminals of the battery to the wires in a carbonic acid vacuum-tube inserted about 2 inches apart, I obtained a stratified discharge similar to that from an induction coil.