Experimental Researches in Electricity Volume 1

The book delves into the inefficiencies of using ordinary zinc in voltaic arrangements, highlighting significant power loss during electrolysis. It explains how impurities in zinc, such as copper and lead, create small voltaic circles that lead to greater destruction of the zinc and unintended hydrogen evolution. This not only diminishes the zinc's effectiveness in generating a strong electric current but also results in wasted energy when the battery is inactive. The text advocates for using zinc amalgam to mitigate these issues and enhance performance.