Page:Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, Volume 1.djvu/462

Rh AKD OTHER CONDITIONS OF MATTER-

Fig. 10.

449

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by which lihe action of the iron was quickened, the difference in the quantities of copper at the poles of the magnet was diminished.

40. If dilute sulphuric acid alone be used, hydrogen gas is of course liberated from the solution by the oxidation of the magnetic wires. In this case the reyerse of the above effects results, and the largest quantity of hydrogen gas appears at the south pole. In this instance, as in the other, the difference between the quantities liberated at each pole depended upon the quantity of acid in the water ; thus proving, aldiough magnetism exerts a very decided power upon chemical action, that the forces of affinity, maybe so great as to overpower the magnetic force.

41. The physical investigation of this very curious subject belongs properly to another inquiry, but still it nlust, if the phenomena are con-

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