Electrolyte

“ For instance, the electrolyte, being a constant factor, as explained, is not required in any fixed and large amount, as is the case with sulphuric acid in the lead battery; thus the cell may be designed with minimum distancing of plates and with the greatest economy of space that is consistent with safe insulation and good mechanical design. Again, the active materials of the electrodes being insoluble in, and absolutely unaffected by, the electrolyte, are not liable to any sort of chemical deterioration by action of the electrolyte—no matter how long continued.... ”

“ Effect of Chemical Reagents.—It will be shown that keeping the electrolyte by which contact is made constant, the electric excitability of the wire depends on the molecular condition of the wire. Certain electrolytes, such as dilute solution of NaCl, dilute solution of bichromate of potash and others, are normal in their action, that is to say, with such contacts the response to stimulation is practically the same as with distilled water contact. ”

“ The limit of the conductivity of one equivalent of an electrolyte is the sum of the mobilities of the ions composing the electrolyte. The frictional forces being constant for infinitely dilute solutions, at a given temperature, an ion will always show the same mobility, irrespective of the nature of the ion of opposite charge, with which it forms the electrolyte. ”

“ For the word 'poles,' previously applied to the plates plunged in a decomposition cell, he substituted the word 'electrodes.' The decomposing liquid he called an 'electrolyte.' and the act of decomposition 'electrolysis.' These terms are now of everyday use in science. The term 'anode 'for the positive electrode and 'cathode 'for the negative one, are less frequently used, while the terms 'anion' and 'cation,' names given to the respective constituents of the decomposed electrolyte, and the term 'ion,' including both anions and cations, are hardly used at all. ”

“ The general method used in the electrolysis of a solution is illustrated in Fig. 31. The vessel D contains the electrolyte. Two plates or rods, A and B, made of suitable material, are connected with the wires from a battery (or dynamo) and dipped into the electrolyte, as shown in the figure. These plates or rods are called electrodes. The electrode connected with the zinc plate of the battery is the negative electrode or cathode, while that connected with the carbon plate is the positive electrode or anode. ”

“ Electrolyte is lost when a cell gasses; electrolyte may be spilled; a cracked jar will allow electrolyte to leak out; if too much water is added, the expansion of the electrolyte when the battery is charging may cause it to run over and be lost, or the jolting of the car may cause some of it to be spilled; if a battery is allowed to become badly sulphated, some of the sulphate is never reduced, or drops to the bottom of the cell, and the acid lost in the formation of the sulphate is not regained. ”

“ The addition of the least trace of an electrolyte will, under certain circumstances, accelerate certain reactions; and alterations in the conditions may even upset a reaction entirely, and lead to totally different end products. The processes in the interior of the cells are surely subjected to a much greater extent to the influences of the physical state of the cell. Colloidal substances and electrolytes—the ions—and perhaps the rest of the substances in solution, certainly play a considerable rôle in their reciprocal relations. ”

“ When the volume of the products of electrolysis is greater than that of the electrolyte, work is done during the electrolysis in overcoming the pressure. If the volume of an electrochemical equivalent of the electrolyte is increased by a volume v when electrolysed under a pressure p, then the work done during the passage of a unit of electricity in overcoming pressure is vp, and the electromotive force required for electrolysis must include a part equal to vp, which is spent in performing this mechanical work. ”

“ In those cells where the density is lighter than 1.285 specific gravity replace some of the electrolyte with previously prepared electrolyte of 1.400 specific gravity. Wait until the cells have charged one hour before taking readings to determine the effect of adjustment, which, if not accomplished, should be attempted again as before. Practice Will enable the attendant to estimate the amount of electrolyte necessary to replace in order to accomplish the proper density desired-at the end of initial charge. ”

“ The temperature of the electrolyte affects the specific gravity, since heat causes the electrolyte to expand. If we take any battery or cell and heat it, the electrolyte will expand and its specific gravity will decrease, although the actual amount of acid is the same. The change in specific gravity amounts to one point, approximately, for every three degrees Fahrenheit. If the electrolyte has a gravity of 1.250 at 70°F, and the temperature is raised to 73°F, the specific gravity of the battery will be 1.249. If the temperature is decreased to 67°F, the specific gravity will be 1.251. ”

“ Without sufficient electro-motive force expended on the molecule no
decomposition will take place. (See Current, Convective.)
Electrolyte.
A body susceptible of decomposition by the electric current, and capable
of electrolytic conduction. It must be a fluid body and therefore
capable of diffusion, and composite in composition. An elemental body
cannot be an electrolyte.
Electrolytic Analysis.
Chemical analysis by electrolysis. The quantitative separation of a
number of metals can be very effectively executed. Thus, suppose that a
solution of copper sulphate was to be analyzed. ”

“ The mercury is connected with the negative pole of the voltaic battery or other electro-motor, and the lead made with the positive pole of the same source. When the current passes there is formed according to the nature of the electrolyte, a hydrogen amalgam, or an amalgam of hydrogen with a metal electro-positive to hydrogen. The electrolyte, which, it will be understood, is distinct and apart from the body of water passing over the table, will last almost indefinitely, there being no consumption of any of its constituents, excepting hydrogen and oxygen from the water of solution. ”

“ Again, the consideration of the electrical potential in the electrolyte, and especially the consideration of the difference of potential in electrolyte and electrode, involves the consideration of quantities of which we have no apparent means of physical measurement, while the difference of potential in "pieces of metal of the same kind attached to the electrodes" is exactly one of the things which we can and do measure. ”

“ And again electrolysis can also be used for extracting from the body such ions as are injurious, as uric and oxalic acid from a patient suffering from gout.
One of the latest advances is the treatment of ankylosed joints by the electrolytic method, the electrolyte used being chloride of sodium, and the marvellous results being attributed to the introduction of the chlorine ions. This sclerolytic property of the current is applicable to all parts of the body accessible to the current. ”

“ The polarization at the surface of the electrodes will set up an opposing electromotive force, and the unequal dilution of the solution will turn the electrolyte into a concentration cell and produce a subsidiary electromotive force either in the same direction as that applied or in the reverse according as the anode or the cathode solution becomes the more dilute. Both effects thus involve internal electromotive forces, and prevent the application of Ohm’s law to the electrolytic cell as a whole. ”

“ ACTIVATORS AND INHIBITORS
The activity of enzymes is strongly influenced by the presence in the solution of other bodies, usually, although not always, electrolytes. This is probably due, in most cases at least, to the action of the electrolyte upon the colloidal condition of the enzyme. All enzymes do not respond alike to the action of the same electrolyte, however. The activity of certain enzymes is enormously increased by the presence of a small amount of acid; while the action of another may be absolutely inhibited by the same acid in the same concentration. ”

“ An electrolyte is always a compound body: it can conduct, but only whilst decomposing. Its conduction depends upon its decomposition and the transmission of its particles in directions parallel to the current; and so intimate is this connexion, that if their transition be stopped, the current is stopped also; if their course be changed, its course and direction change with them; if they proceed in one direction, it has no power to proceed in any other than a direction invariably dependent on them. ”

“ When a flow of electrons is allowed to do work and move to the oxygen side of the fuel cell, the reaction will proceed. By use and replacement, hydrogen ions flow through the solid electrolyte to the catalytic electrode on the oxygen side of the fuel cell. When electrons are available on this surface, oxygen disassociates and combines with the available hydrogen ions to form water. ”

“ Electrolysis. It has been seen that in the voltaic cell electricity is generated by chemical action. Sulphuric acid acts upon zinc and dissolves it in the cell, hydrogen is produced, etc. When this process is reversed, that is, when the electric current is passed through some solutions, they are decomposed, or broken up into their constituents. This process is called electrolysis, and the compound decomposed is the electrolyte. (See "Study," § 369, etc., with experiments.) ”

“ The negative ions of an electrolyte are attracted to the anode and are discharged on contact with it. Anions such as the chloride ion yield chlorine atoms, from which gaseous chlorine molecules are formed and escape. The radicals which compose such ions as NO_{3}^{-} or SO_{4}^{—} are not capable of independent existence after discharge, and break down into oxygen and N_{2}O_{5} and SO_{3} respectively. The oxygen escapes and the anhydrides, reacting with water, re-form nitric and sulphuric acids. ”

“ If a mercury surface is rapidly extending, and electricity is not rapidly transferred through the electrolyte, the electric surface-density in the double layer must rapidly decrease, since the same quantity of electricity is being distributed over an increasing area Thus it may be inferred that a rapidly extending mercury-surface in an electrolyte is at the same potential as the electrolyte. ”

“ The power therefore, of acids, alkalies, salts, and other bodies in solution, to increase conducting power, appears to hold good only in those cases where the electrolyte subject to the current suffers decomposition, and loses all influence when the current transmitted has too low an intensity to affect chemical change. ”

“ On reaching the electrodes the ions give up their charges, and immediately exhibit their ordinary chemical properties. Hydrogen is given off at the negative electrode, while at the positive electrode the uncharged SO4 radicle reacts with the water present, and oxygen is released.
This is an example of a secondary chemical reaction. This occurs in many cases, and where it occurs the final product is different from that first produced by the electrolytic action. Fresh ions are formed or dissociated in the electrolyte as fast as the original ions give up their charges at the electrodes. ”

“ It cannot be denied that the degree of dissociation of an electrolyte can be altered by very different factors, such as heat, light, chemical processes, etc., and in that the surfaces of the protoplasm, acting as semi-permeable membranes, bring about a selective action on the passage of the ions, there arises the opportunity for the development of difference of electrical potential on both sides, and for further chemical alterations in the protoplasm. ”

“ Neither the acid nor the water should ever be placed in any vessels but those made of lead, glass, porcelain, rubber, or glazed earthenware. Lead cups, tanks, and funnels may be used in handling electrolyte, but the electrolyte must not be put in containers made of any metal except lead. Lead is rather expensive for making such containers, and the glass bottles, porcelain, rubber, or glazed earthenware may be used. ”

“ Although complete coagulation does not occur suddenly as the quantity of electrolyte is increased, yet the interval between the concentration at which, in a given time, the turbidity becomes visibly greater and that at which the particles have become large enough to settle out or to be retained by a filter is usually so small that a fairly definite concentration can be specified at which each electrolyte causes a certain, experimentally determinable, degree of coagulation in a definite time. ”

“ As the hydrogen e advances, it, on coming against the platina c, f, which forms a part of the circuit, communicates its electric or chemical forces through it to the next electrolyte in the circuit, fused chloride of lead, g, h, where the chlorine must move in conformity with the direction of the oxygen at d, for it has to compensate the forces disturbed in its part of the circuit by the superior influence of those between the oxygen and zinc at d, b, aided as they are by those of the battery a ”

“ The zinc should be kept well amalgamated and out of the solution except when in use. It is a good type of cell for experimental work. To make the electrolyte take 3 ounces of finely powdered bichromate of potash and 1 pint of boiling water; stir with a glass rod and after it is cool, add slowly, stirring all the time, 3 ounces of sulphuric acid. ”