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Show The Voltaic Ilttttery, At the-very beginning of tho present century Vol la. stimulated by Gajvani's recent discovery of what ho called "animal "ani-mal electricity," invented tho "pilo" and tho "crown of cups." We now speak of I any equivalent arrangement as a voltaic ! battery. Without attempting to trace out tho path of discovery and invention' 'pursued by Votta. it will bo sufficient for ', our purpose if wo mako clear tho gene-' ral construction and action of such an i apparatus. j If a plate of zinc and a similar one of : copper bo nearly immersed in water con-: con-: taininga littlesulpliurlcacid, which may ! beheld in nny suitable vessel, no note-l note-l worthy action will be apparent so long as the metals do not touch; but if they 1 bo brought in contact, or bo joined by means of a conductor, bubbles of hydro-' hydro-' gen gas will at onco appear on the sur ' face of tho copper, and the rino will more or less rapidly dissolve to form tine sulphate with the achL If the plates bo separated, and the portion por-tion of the zinc which remains above the liquid bo tested with a very delicate electroscope-, it will bo found to be j charged with negative electricity, and in I liko manner tho corresponding portion of ! tho copper plato will bo found to be j charged with positive electricity. Pro-I Pro-I fessor C. F. Brackett in Sen oner's. |
