a. [From the name of the Italian physician and scientist, Alessandro Volta (1745–1826) + -IC.]
1. Of apparatus: Used in producing electricity by chemical action after the method discovered by Volta; esp. voltaic battery (BATTERY 10), voltaic pile (PILE sb.3 5).
(a) 1813. Sir H. Davy, Agric. Chem. (1814), 41. It has been shown by Experiments made by means of the Voltaic battery … that compound bodies in general are capable of being decomposed by Electrical powers.
1850. Grove, Corr. Phys. Forces (ed. 2), 81. A voltaic battery, which consists usually of alternations of two metals, and a liquid capable of acting chemically upon one of them,… is incapable of acting.
1879. G. Prescott, Sp. Telephone, 1. When galvanism was discovered, at the beginning of the present century, and the voltaic battery invented.
(b) 1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 275. The Voltaic pile, as well as the battery last described, are now but little used.
1839. Noad, Electricity, iii. 97. To Volta’s experiments we are indebted for the first galvanic instrument, namely, the voltaic pile; it was described by him in the Philosophical Transactions of 1800.
1896. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., I. 352. After the discovery of the voltaic pile the use of the electrical machine gradually fell into disuse.
(c) 1812. Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., 54. Without the Voltaic apparatus, there was no possibility of examining the relations of electrical polarities to chemical attractions.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., xvii. 460. Voltaic arrangements, consisting of a few large plates rather than many small ones.
1855. Bain, Senses & Int., I. ii. § 22. In a voltaic cell, an energy is generated and transmitted along a wire with inconceivable rapidity.
1884. Knight, Dict. Mech., Suppl. 930/2. A voltaic pencil, by the use of which designers and draughtsmen may be enabled to dispense entirely with the aid of the engraver.
2. Of electricity: Generated by chemical action.
1816. Accum, Chem. Tests, 223. When the precipitation of the metallic lead takes place in the surface of the zinc, voltaic electricity is evolved.
1836. Mrs. Somerville, Connex. Phys. Sci. (ed. 3), xxviii. 305. Voltaic electricity is of that peculiar kind which is elicited by the force of chemical action.
1890. Nature, 4 Sept. The application of voltaic electricity to the welding and fusion of metals.
b. Of a current: Consisting of voltaic electricity.
1834. Mrs. Somerville, Connex. Phys. Sci., xxxi. 324. The magnetic and electric fluids,… arising from all possible positions of the conducting wire, and every direction of the voltaic current.
1860. Piesse, Lab. Chem. Wonders, 180. The effect of a continued voltaic current.
3. Of or pertaining to, connected with, caused by, electricity due to chemical action.
1820. Faraday, Exp. Res. (1859), 65. The little bars … evidently produced voltaic action. Ibid. (1827), Chem. Manip., xvii. 461. This formed a voltaic combination with the platina and the fluid.
1855. Bain, Senses & Int., II. ii. § 23. The voltaic shock is very different, in consequence of the altered character of the discharge.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 309/1. The invention of voltaic deposition … created a new era for the manufacture of silver-plated wares.
b. Voltaic brass, brass deposited by the action of electricity.
1860. Ure’s Dict. Arts (ed. 5), II. 94. Voltaic brass does not appear to have been obtained in a solid distinct form, but has been successfully produced as a coating upon a copper surface.
Hence Voltaically adv., by means of, in respect of, voltaic electricity; after the manner of a voltaic battery.
1843. Grove, Corr. Phys. Forces, etc. (1874), 303. Besides employing the usual chemical tests, I analysed it voltaically.
1844. Noad, Electricity (ed. 2), 144. When a series of some hundred couples of zinc and copper cylinders are arranged voltaically, and charged with common water, a battery is obtained.
1865. Mansfield, Salts, 12. One of these, the Chlorine, is said to be voltaically or chemically negative.
