Unpublished paper, 'Researches on electro-chemical equivalents, and on a supported discrepancy between some of them and the atomic weight of the same bodies, as deduced from the theory of isomorphism' by P [Philip James] Yorke

Description

Yorke describes various experiments made with a view to determine the electro-chemical equivalents of sodium and potassium. Three experiments gave, respectively, 22.3, 22.9, and 25, as the equivalent of the former; and two other experiments gave, respectively, 45 and 41.7, as the equivalent of the latter of these substances. York then inquires what would be the result of the electrolysation of the aqueous solutions of soda and potash, on the hypothesis of these bodies being composed of two equivalents, or atoms, of metal, and one of oxygen. To determine this question he employs a solution of dichloride of copper in muriatic [hydrochloric] acid, as being a substance composed of two atoms of metal and one of an electro-negative element. Its electrolysis gave as the equivalent of copper, 52.8, 59.4, and 61.6, numbers approximating closely to 63.2, or double the atomic weight of copper. He concludes that there is no reason deducible from the theory of isomorphism for doubting the correctness of the received atomic weights of silver and sodium, but that the difficulty should be considered as attaching itself to the di-compounds of copper; and that Faraday’s propositions on this subject remain unimpeached.

Annotations in ink and pencil throughout. Marked on front as 'Archives 9 July 1840'.

Subject: Chemistry

Received 14 April 1840. Communicated by Michael Faraday.

Whilst the Royal Society declined to publish this paper in full, an abstract of the paper was published in volume 4 of Abstracts of the Papers Printed in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London [later Proceedings of the Royal Society] as 'Researches on electro-chemical equivalents, and on a supposed discrepancy between some of them and the atomic weight of the same bodies, as deduced from the theory of isomorphism'.

Reference number

AP/23/44

Earliest possible date

1840

Physical description

Ink and graphite pencil on paper

Page extent

25 pages

Format

Manuscript