2. Of or pertaining to voltaism, or voltaic electricity; as,
voltaic induction; the voltaic arc.
Note: See the Note under {Galvanism}.
{Voltaic arc}, a luminous arc, of intense brilliancy, formed
between carbon points as electrodes by the passage of a
powerful voltaic current.
{Voltaic battery}, an apparatus variously constructed,
consisting of a series of plates or pieces of dissimilar
metals, as copper and zinc, arranged in pairs, and
subjected to the action of a saline or acid solution, by
which a current of electricity is generated whenever the
two poles, or ends of the series, are connected by a
conductor; a galvanic battery. See {Battery}, 4.
(b), and Note.
{Voltaic circuit}. See under {Circuit}.
{Voltaic couple} or {element}, a single pair of the connected
plates of a battery.
{Voltaic electricity}. See the Note under {Electricity}.
{Voltaic pile}, a kind of voltaic battery consisting of
alternate disks of dissimilar metals, separated by
moistened cloth or paper. See 5th {Pile}.
{Voltaic protection of metals}, the protection of a metal
exposed to the corrosive action of sea water, saline or
acid liquids, or the like, by associating it with a metal
which is positive to it, as when iron is galvanized, or
coated with zinc.
2. One of the ultimate, undecomposable constituents of any
kind of matter. Specifically: (Chem.) A substance which
cannot be decomposed into different kinds of matter by any
means at present employed; as, the elements of water are
oxygen and hydrogen.
Note: The elements are naturally classified in several
families or groups, as the group of the alkaline
elements, the halogen group, and the like. They are
roughly divided into two great classes, the metals, as
sodium, calcium, etc., which form basic compounds, and
the nonmetals or metalloids, as oxygen, sulphur,
chlorine, which form acid compounds; but the
distinction is only relative, and some, as arsenic,
tin, aluminium, etc., form both acid and basic
compounds. The essential fact regarding every element
is its relative atomic weight or equivalent. When the
elements are tabulated in the order of their ascending
atomic weights, the arrangement constitutes the series
of the Periodic law of Mendelejeff. See {Periodic law},
under {Periodic}. This Periodic law enables us to
predict the qualities of unknown elements. The number
of elements known is about seventy-five, but the gaps
in the Periodic law indicate the possibility of many
more. Many of the elements with which we are familiar,
as hydrogen, carbon, iron, gold, etc., have been
recognized, by means of spectrum analysis, in the sun
and the fixed stars. From certain evidence (as that
afforded by the Periodic law, spectrum analysis, etc.)
it appears that the chemical elements probably may not
be simple bodies, but only very stable compounds of
some simpler body or bodies. In formulas, the elements
are designated by abbreviations of their names in Latin
or New Latin. The Elements
------------------------------------------------------------
Name |Sym-|Atomic Weight| |bol | O=16 | H=1 |
------------------------------------------------------------
Aluminum | Al | 27.1 | 26.9| Antimony(Stibium) Argon
Arsenic Barium Beryllium (see Glucinum) Bismuth Boron
Bromine Cadmium Caesium Calcium Carbon Cerium Chlorine
Chromium Cobalt Columbium Copper (Cuprum) Erbium
Fluorine Gadolinium Gallium Germanium Glucinum
2. To constitute; to make up with elements.
His very soul was elemented of nothing but sadness.
--Walton.