ACTION OF POTASSIUM ON AMMONIA. 247 



cured from the fusible substance, by the application of a 

 strong heat, two fifths of the quantity of ammonia that had 

 disappeared in their first process, and a quantity of hidro- 

 gen and nitrogen in the proportions in which they exist in 

 ammonia, equal to one fifth more. 



My results have been very different, and the reasons will, Different from 

 I trust, be immediately obvious. r * avy s * 



When the retort containing the fusible substance is ex- The fusible 

 hausted, filled with hidrogen and exhausted a second time, ^atedTn hi- 

 and heat gradually applied, the substance so«n fuses, effer- drogen. 

 vesces, and, as the heat increases, gives off a considerable 

 quantity of elastic fluid, and becomes at length, when the 

 temperature approaches nearly to dull redness, a dark gray 

 solid, which by a continuance of this degree of heat does 

 not undergo any alteration. 



In an experiment, in which eight grains of potassium had Gas expelled 

 absorbed sixteen cubical inches of well dried ammonia in a romi y 

 glass retort, the fusible substance gave off twelve cubical 

 inches and half of gas, by being heated nearly to redness; 

 and this gass analysed was found to consist of three quar- 

 ters of a cubical inch of ammonia, and the remainder of 

 elastic fluids, which when mixed with oxigen gas in the pro- 

 portion of 6| to 6, and acted upon by the electric spark, di- 

 minished to 5§. The temperature of the atmosphere, in this 

 process, was 57* Fahrenheit, and the pressure equalled that 

 of 30*1 inches of mercury. 



In a similar experiment, in which the platina tray contain- Heated in a 

 ing the fusible substance was heated in a polished iron tube polished iron 

 filled with hidrogen gas, and connected with a pneumatic hidrogen. 

 apparatus containing very dry mercury, the quantity of 

 elastic fluid given off, $11 the corrections being made, equal- 

 led thirteen cubical inches and three quarters, and of these a 

 cubical inch was ammonia ; and the residual gas, and the 

 gas introduced into the tube being accounted for, it appear- 

 ed, that the elastic fluid generated, destructible by detona- 

 tion with oxigen, was to the indestructible elastic fluid, as 

 2-5 to 1. 



In this process, the heat applied approached to the dull 

 red heat. The mercury, in the thermometer, stood at 6*2° 

 Fahrenheit, and that in the barometer at 30*3 inches. 



In 



