A voltameter is an instrument which is usually used to measure the strength of an electric current, which it does by measuring the quantity of a constituent of an electrolyte deposited when the current passes through it. For example, if the electrolyte is silver nitrate, silver is deposited on the negative electrode, the amount being dependent on the quantity of electricity passed through the solution (Ganot 1890,831). The instrument can be used in reverse, by passing a known quantity of electricity through, when the "electrochemical equivalent", that is the weight of a substance deposited per unit of electricity can be determined. The instruments in the Maynooth collection measure the weight of deposited copper from copper sulphate, or the volume of hydrogen liberated from a solution of dilute sulphuric acid.

172 Voltameter

Elec./Mag. Page

Other Electrical Equip.