COMBINATIONS OF OXIMURIATIC GAS AND OXIGEM^ 1|5 



that some alkali was formed at the same time with the per- 

 oxides, yet I obtained an absorption of 2*6 cubical inches, 

 ia a case when 2 grains of potassium were employed, and 

 of 1*63 cubical inches, in a case when a grain of sodium was 

 used, but in this last instance the edge of the platina tray- 

 had been acted upon by the metal, and was oxidated*. The 

 mercury in the barometer in these experiments stood at 

 30*12 inches, and that in the thermometer at 62* Fahren- 

 heit. 



When these peroxides were formed upon muriate of Their pmpef. 

 potash, the colour of that from potassium was of a bright 

 orange; that from sodium of a darker orange tint. They 

 gave off ox i gen, as Messrs. Gay-Lussac and Thenard 

 state, by the action of water or acids. They were con- 

 verted into alkali, as the French chemists have stated, by- 

 being heated with any metallic or inflammable matter. 

 They thickened fixed oils, forming a compound, that did 

 not redden paper tinged with turmeric, without the addition 

 of water. 



When potassium is brought into contact with fused Action of p^ 

 nitre, in tubes of pure glass, there is a slight scintillation fusedi*niire, 

 only, and the nitre becomes of a red brown colour. In this 

 operation, nitrogen is produced, and the oxide of potassium 

 formed. I thought that by ascertaining the quantity of 

 nitrogen evolved by the action of a given weight of potas* 

 siuni, and comparing this with the quantity of oxlgen dis- 

 engaged from the oxide by water, 1 might be able to deter- 

 mine its composition accurately. A grain of potassium 

 acting in this way, I found, produced only 0*l6 of nitro- 

 gen ; and the red oxide, by its action upon water, pro- 

 duced less than half a cubical inch of oxigen, so that it is 

 probable, that potash as well as its peroxide is formed in the 

 operation. 



Sodium, when brought into contact with fused nitre, Action of ao. 



• Messrs. Gay-Lussac and Thenard have stated in the paper above re- Potash and b*- 

 ferred to, that common potash and barytes absorb oxigen when heated, rytes absorb 

 It would seem, that the action of the fixed alkalis and of barytes on pla- oxigen whea. 

 tina depends on the production of the peroxides. I have little doubt, "«*'*^ 

 but that these ingenious gentlemen will have anticipated this observation, 

 ill the detailed account of their experiments. 



I )2 produced 



