ACTION 01? POTASSIUM ON AMMOMA. j255 



that could be applied, the operation was stopped. The 

 quantity of gas collected, making the proper corrections and 

 reductions, would have been three cubical inches and a. half 

 at the mean temperature and pressure. Twelve measures The gas dat»- 

 of it were mixed with six of oxigen gas, the electrical spark 

 was passed through the mixture ; a strong inflammation 

 took place, the diminution was to three measures and a half, 

 and the residuum contained oxigen. This experiment was 

 repeated upon different quantities with the same compara- 

 tive results. 



In examining the platina tube, which had a screw adapt- In the tu ^ 

 ed to it at the lower extremity, by means of which it could potash ami 

 be opened, the lower part was found to contain potash, P '^*" 4 * ' 

 which had all the properties of the pure alkali, and in the 

 upper part there was a quantity of potassium. Water 

 poured into the tube produced a violent heat and inflamma- 

 tion ; but no smell of ammonia. * 



This result was so unexpected and so extraordinary, that 

 I at first supposed there was some source of errour. I had 

 calculated upon procuring nitrogen as the only aeriform 

 product ; I obtained an elastic fluid, which gave much more 

 diminution by detonation with oxigen, than that produced 

 from ammonia by electricity. 



I now made the experiment, by heating the entire fusi- Gas from the 

 ble substance from six grains of potassium, which had ab- whole or the 

 sorbed twelve cubical inches of ammonia, in the iron tube, stance heated 

 in the manner before described. The heat was gradually 

 raised to whiteness, and the gas collected in two portions. 

 The whole quantity generated, making the usual corrections 

 for temperature and pressure, and the portion of hidrogen 

 originally in the tube, and the residuum, would have been 

 fourteen cubical inches and a half at the mean degree of the 

 barometer and thermometer. Of these, nearly a cubical 

 inch was ammonia, and the remainder a gas, of which the 

 portion destructible by detonation with oxigen was to the 

 indestructible portion, as 2*7 to 1. 



The lower part of the tube, where the heat had been Solid results, 

 intense, was found surrounded with potash in a vitreous 

 form ; the upper part contained a considerable quantity of 

 potassium^ 



la 



