. ployed, there was an increase of O*:?, which favours. the opi- 

 nion of the alkalis being metallic oxides; otherwit^e we must 

 suppose, that this increase of weight arises solely from the 

 water of crystallization. 

 Its combustion luto a well closed bottle, containing four ounces of lime- 

 rendei^ed Itme- ^g|.gf ^ above half a grain of the metalloid in several glo- 

 owing proba- bules was introduced. The combustion was effected very 

 b'y to carbon speedily, and the water was rendered very turbid every time 

 hexineoil. * the globules sunk down, as Curaudau had observed. It 

 might be presumed therefore, that the metalloid contained 

 carbon ; but, as it is very difficult to separate all the ad-^ 

 bering oil, it may still be supposed, that the carbonic acid 

 The eombus- came from this oil. I thought I should obtain a much 

 tion of Its more certain result, by converting the metalloid into an 

 amalgam did -^ i *• • • -4. • r 



uot. amalgam with mercury, and thus immersing it in lime-y 



water, which jyould prevent the combqsiipn of the pil. In 

 this process the evolution of gas was very brifli, without the 

 water becoming turbid ; but the gas gradually ceased to be 

 evolved, and the surface of th.e amalgam became covered 

 with a light gray pellicle, which rendered the flujd turbid 

 and gray, but not milkj^ A few drops of nitric acid did 

 not make this cloudiness disappear, and the ipixture ac- 

 quired a metallic taste. I poured distilled water Qn the re- 

 maining amalgam, and the evolution of gas commenced 

 ainew with a great deal of energy;^ but no pellicle was 

 formed, and the liquid did not become turbid. Thjs result 

 jnay be explained or) the supposition, that the contact of 

 limew^ter favours in some degree the oxidation of the mer-^ 

 cury ; though it is not easy to say why this should take 

 place, as it does not with dirftjlled water, and accordingly no 

 pellicle i& formed. As no trace of carbonate of lime ap^ 

 pears, it may be concluded, that the metalloid contains no 

 carbon ; but it \yould be well to confirm this by fresh exp^« 

 rimenls, 

 Amalgam dif. On triturating one part of metalloid of potash with thirty 

 irthe *^proiK)r- ^'^ mercury in a porcelain mortar, a pretty ductile amal- 

 tjon of mer- gam was formed, resembling amalgam of tin : but with ten 

 *"^>> or twenty parts of niercury a gray pulverulent substance 



only was obtained, which assumed a metallic brilliancy by 

 pressure. On continuing to bray this substance, it became 



moist. 



