l^ COMBINATIONS 07 OXIMtJIlXATIC CAS AKD OXXGEIT. 



water; and the experiineuts that I have detailed conform as 

 veil as can be expected with these conclusions. 



The proportions of potash and soda indicated, in different 

 neutral combinations, by these estimations, will be found to 

 agree very nearly with those derived from the most accurate 

 analyses, particularly those of Mr. Berthollet ; or the dif- 

 ferences are such as admit of an easy explanation. 



Kyperoximu- I staled in my last communication the probability, that 

 ^ * the oxigen in the hyperoximuriute of potash was intriple 

 Combination with the metal and oximuriatic gas; the new 

 facts respecting the peroxide confirm this idea. Potassium, 

 perfectly saturated with oxigey, would probably contain six 

 proportipns; for, according to Mr. Chenevix's analysis, 

 ■which is confirmed by one made in the Laboratory of the 

 Royal Institution by Mr. E. Davy, hyperoximuriate of pot- 

 ash must consist of 40*5 potassium, 32*9 oximuriatic gas, 

 and 45 of oxigen. 



I have mentioned, that-by strongly heating the peroxide 

 of potassium in oximuriatic acid, all the oxigen is expelled^ 

 and a mere combination of oximuriatic gas and potassium 

 formed. I thought it possible, that at a low temperature a 

 combination might be effected, and I have reason to be- 

 lieve, that this is the case. I made a peroxide of potassium, 

 by heating potassium with about twice the quantity of nitre, 

 and admitted oximuriatic gas, which was absorbed: some 

 oxigen was expelled on the fusion of the peroxide, but a 

 salt remained, which gave oximuriatic gas, as well as muri- 

 atic acid, by the, action of suTphuric acid. 



Its formaiion It seems evident, that in the formation of the hyperoxi- 



^* '"* * muriate of potash one quantity of potash is decomposed by 

 the attraction of oximuriatic ^as to form muriate of potash; 

 but the oxigen, instead of being set free in the nascent 

 state, enters into combination with another portion of pot- 



V ash, to form a peroxide, and with oximuriatic gas. 



The proportions required for these changes may be easily 

 deduced from the data which have been stated in the" pre- 

 ceding pages. 5 proportions of potash, equal to 240 j^rains, 

 tnust be decomposed, to form with an equal number of 

 proportions of oximuriatic gas, equal to l64-'5 grains, 5 pro- 

 portions of muriate of potash equal to 367 grains; and 5 of 



oxigen, 



