$4:6 ACTION OF POTASSIUM ON AMMONIA.. 



masses, but is semitransparent in thin films, and appears of 

 a bright brown colour by transmitted light. 



2. It is fusible at a heat a little above that of boiling water, 

 and if heated much higher, emits globules of gas. 



3. It appears to be considerably heavier than water, for 

 it sinks rapidly in oil of sassafras. 



4. It is a nonconductor of electricity. 



5. When it is melted in oxigen gas, it burns with great 

 vividness, emitting bright sparks. Oxigen is absorbed, ni- 

 trogen is emitted, and potash, which from its great fusibility 

 seems to contain water, is formed. 



6. When brought into contact with water, it acts upon it 

 with much energy, produces heat, and often inflammation, 

 and evolves ammonia. When thrown upon water, it disap- 

 pears with a hissing noise, and globules from it often move 

 in a state of ignition upon the surface of the water. It ra- 

 pidly effervesces and deliquesces in air, but can be pre- 

 served under naphtha, iff which, however, it softens slowly, 

 and seems partially to dissolve. When it is plunged under 

 water filling an inverted jar, by means of a proper tube, it 

 disappears instantly with effervescence, and the nonabsorb- 

 able elastic fluid liberated is found to be hidrogen gas. 



The ponder- By far the greatest part of the ponderable matter of the 



able matter of ammonia, that disappears in the experiment of its action 

 the ajnmonia . . . . 



exists in this upon potassium, evidently exists in the dark fusible pro- 

 product duct. On weighing a tray containing six grains of potas- 

 sium, before and after the process, the volatile alkali em- 

 ployed having been very dry, I found that it had increased 

 more thau two grains ; the rapidity with which the product 

 acts upon moisture prevented me from determining the 

 point with great minuteness; but I doubt not, that the 

 weight of the olive coloured substance and of the hidrogen 

 disengaged precisely equals the weight of the potassium, and 

 ammonia consumed. 



Results of M. M. Gay Lussac and Thenard * are said to have pro- 



Gay Lussac 



and Thenard. f No notice is taken of the apparatus used by M.M. Gay Lussac and 

 Thenard in the Monitcur ; but from the tenour of the details, it seems 

 that they must have operated Ml giass vessels in the \vaj heretofore 

 adopted ever mercury. 



cured 



