COMBINATIONS OF OXlMURIATlC GAS AND OXIGEN. 113 



both in their connexion with the higher departments of ^ 



chemical philosophy, and with the ceconomical applications 

 of chemistry, I tiust that even these imperfect labours will 

 not be wholly unacceptable, 



2. On the Combinations of Oximuriatic Gas and Oxigen with 

 the Metals from the fixed Alkalis, 



The intensity of the attraction of potassium for oximu- Potassium in- 



riatic gas is shown by its spontaneous inflammation in this ^^"^es in oxi- 



substance, and by the vividness of the combustion. I sa- 



tistied myself, by various minute experiments, that no water ,, 



is separated in this operation, and that the proportions of 



the compound are such, that one grain of potassium absorbs 



about 1*1 cubical inch of oximuriatic gas at the mean and forms a 



temperature and pressure, and that they form a neutral "•"^'^^' ^°"*" 

 11-Li u \ p • t 1 poii"<i unal- 



compound, which undergoes no change by fusion. I used, terable by fn- 



in the experiments from which these conclusions are drawn, ^*^"» 

 a tray of platina for receiving the potassium ; the metal was 

 heated in an exhausted vessel, to decompose any water ab- 

 sorbed by the crust of potash, which forms upon the potas- 

 sium during its exposure to the atmosphere, and the gas- 

 was freed from vapour by muriate of lime. Large masses 

 of potassium cannot be made to inflame, without lieat, in > 



oximuriatic gas. In all experiments in which I fused the 

 potassium upon glass, the retorts broke in pieces, in con- 

 sequence of the violence of the combustion, and even in two 

 instances when I used the tray of platina. If oximuriatic 

 gas be used not freed from vapour, or if the potassium has 

 been previously exposed to the air, a little moisture alwayg 

 separates during the process of combustion. When pure 

 potassium, and pure oximuriatic gas are used, the result, as thdsameas 

 1 have stated, is a mere binary compound, the same as mu/* "^""^^^ of pot- 

 riate of potash, that has undergone ignition. 



The combustion of potassium and sodium in oxigen gas Potassium and 

 is much less vivid than in oximuriatic gas. From this sodium burn 

 phenomenon, and from some others, I was inclined to be- o^f«n than^ 

 lieve, that the attraction of these metals for oxigen is feebler, oximurktk 

 than their attraction for pximuriatic gas. I made several ^*** 

 experiments, which proved that this is the fact ; but before 1 

 enter upon a detail of them, it will be necessary to discus^ 



Vol. XXIX.— June, 1811. I ivor« 



