AMALGAM PRODUCED FROM AMMONIA. 6$ 



water, the inflammable body is less compounded, than the Iesscom- 

 inflammable substance resulting from its combustion. poun e an 



Other 



it was lost by passing through the potash into the atmosphere, yet neatly 

 half a cubic foot was preserved, which proved to be hidrogen. In the 

 tube was found two products, one in the quantity of a few grains, con- 

 taining potassium, combined with a small quantity of iron, and which 

 had sublimated in the operation, and the other a fixed white metallic 

 substance, which consisted of an alloy of iron and potas&ium. 



The first of these substances burnt when thrown upon water j and in 

 its other characters resembled pure potassium, except that its specific 

 gravity was greater, its colour less brilliant, and when it tarnished in the 

 atmosphere, it became of a much deeper colour than pure potassium. 



Now potash that has been ignited is the purest form known of this »r water Dre . 

 alkali j but on Messrs. Gay Lussac's and Thenard's theory, this potash ge nt to have 

 must contain water, not only sufficient to furnish hidrogen to metallize furnished hi- 

 the alkali, but likewise the quantity disengaged : dry potash then, as it <*rogen, 

 ♦s procured in our experiments, must on this theory be a compound, con- 

 taining a considerable quantity of matter which can furnish hidrogen ; 

 and what would be its form or properties if deprived of this matter we 

 are wholly unable to judge, which brings this question to the general 

 question discussed in the text. 



Potassium I find may be produced readily from dry ignited potash in an< j n(jne - n 

 electrical experiments j and the result of the combustion of potassium the potash re- 

 in oxigen gas is an alkali, so dry that it produces violent heat, and ebul- produced, 

 lition when water is added to it. 



In Messrs. Gay Lussac's and Thenard's experiment on the action of 

 potassium on ammonia, the'hidrogen disengaged in the first process, and 

 that existing in the ammonia disengaged in the second process, exactly 

 equals the whole quantity contained in the ammonia. But there is no 

 proof of any hidrogen being disengaged from the potassium, for the am- 

 monia lost is not generated nor potash formed, but by the addition of a 

 substance, consisting of oxigen and hidrogen ; and as the three bodies 

 concerned in this experiment are potassium, ammonia, and water, the 

 result ought to be potash, ammonia, and a quantity of hidrogen, equal 

 to that evolved by the mere action of water on potassium, which is said 

 to be the case. 



Even if there were no other proofs, the chemical properties of potas* chemical pro- 

 sium are so wholly unlike those that might be expected from a com- perties of pot- 

 pound of potash and hidrogen, that they are almost sufficient to decide assium very 

 the question. Potassium acts upon water with much more energy than *v * T f '**? 

 potash, and produces much more heat in it ; and yet if a compound of pound of pot- 

 hidregen, the affinity of potash for water must be diminished by its affi- ash and hidro- 

 nity for hidrogen, to say nothing of the quantity of heat, which ought 8 en « 

 (on the common theory of capcaity for heat) to be cairied ©ff by this 

 Jight inflammable gas. 



Voi. JOUlWAIt. 1W9. F Potajsiui* 



