AMALGAM PRODUCED FROM AMMONIA. ()J 



I venture to hint at these notions: but I do not attach Theory of cha- 

 in u;h importance to them; the age of chemistry is not yet "JJJJJJJ * yet 

 sufficiently mature for such discussions ; the more subtile 

 -powers of matter are but just beginning to be considered; 

 and all general views concerning them must as yet rest upon 

 feeble and imperfect foundations. 



Whatever be the fate of the speculative part of the in- 

 quiry, the facts however will, I hope, admit of many appli- 

 cations, and explain some phenomena in nature. 



The metals of the Earth cannot exist at the surface of the phenomena of 

 globe ; but it is very possible, that they may form a part of volcanoes, 

 the interior; and such an assumption would offer a theory 

 for the phaenomena of volcanoes, the formation of lavas, and 

 the excitement and effects of subterraneous heat*, and would 

 probably lead to a general hypothesis in geology. 



The 



removed, is yet lessened by analogies. Thus alloys in general, and in- 

 flammable compounds, are more oxidable than the simple substances 

 that compose them. Sulphuret of iron at common temperatures de- 

 composes water with facility ; whereas sulphur under the same circum- 

 stances has no action on water, and iron a very small one. The com- 

 pound of phosphorus and hidiogen is more inflammable than either of 

 its constituents. 



Should a new theory of the dependence of the chemical forms of Theory of the 

 matter upon electrical powers be established, the facts belonging to am- dependence of 

 monium would admit of a more easy solution. Ammonium might be chemical forms 

 supposed to be a simple body, which, by combining with different quan- ° n e e ^ aca 

 ties of water, and in different states of electricity, formed nitrogen, am- 

 monia, atmospherical air, nitrous oxide, nitrous gas, and nitric acid. 



Water, on this idea, must be supposed a constituent part of all the 

 different gasses ; but its electricities in oxigen aud hidrogen would pro- 

 bably be the very reverse of what they have been supposed by Mr. Rit- 

 ter, and some ingenious English inquirers. 



Water positively electrified would be hidrogen, water negatively elec- 

 trified, oxigen j and as in the physical experiments of temperature, ice, 

 added to certain quantities of steam, by an equilibrium of heat produces 

 water, so in the chemical experiment of the generation of wafer the 

 positive and negative electricity of oxigen and hidrogen in certain pro- 

 portions would annihilate each other, and water alone be the result. At 

 all events ammonium, whether simple or compound, must be considered 

 as owing its attraction for oxigen to its highly positive electrical state, 

 which is shown by its powerful determination to the negatiTe surface in 

 the Voltaic circuit. 



• Let it be assumed, the metals of the earths and alkalis, in alloy with 



F » commo 



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