480 On some new analytical Researches 



wise are necessarily imperfect; novel instruments are de- 

 manded, the use of' which is only gradually acquired, and a 

 number of Experiments of the same kind must be made, be- 

 fore one is obtained from which correct data for conclusions 



II. Experiments on the Action of Potassium on Ammonia, 

 and Observations on the Nature of these two Bodies. 

 In the Bakerian lecture, which I had the honour of read- 

 ing before the Society, November 19, 1807, I mentioned 

 that, in heating potassium strongly in ammonia, I found that 

 there was a considerable increase of volume of the gas, that 

 hydrogen and nitrogen were produced, and that the potas- 

 sium appeared to be oxidated ; but this experiment, as I had 

 not been able to examine the residuum with accuracy, I did 

 not publish. I stated it as an evidence, which I intended to 

 pursue more fully, of the existence of oxygen in ammonia. 



In a paper read before the Royal Society last June, which 

 they have done me the honour of printing, I have given an 

 account of various experiments on the amalgam from am- 

 monia, discovered by Messrs. Berzelius and Pontin, and in 

 a note attached to this communication I ventured to con- 

 trovert an opinion of MM. Gay Lussac and Thenard, with 

 respect to the agency of potassium and ammonia, even on 

 their own statement of facts, as detailed in theMoniteur for 

 May 27, 1808. 



The general obscurity belonging to these refined objects of 

 research, their importance and connection with the whole 

 of chemical theory, have induced me since that time to ap- 

 ply to them no inconsiderable degree of' labour and attention ; 

 and the results of my inquiries will, I trust, be found not 

 only to confirm my former conclusions ; but likewise to offer 

 some novel views. 



In the first of these series of operations on' the action of 

 potassium on ammonia, I used retorts of the green glass; I 

 then, suspecting oxygen might be derived from the metallic 

 oxides in the green glass, employed retorts of plate glass ; 

 and 'ast of all, I fastened the potassium upon trays of pla- 

 tina, or iron, which were introduced into the glass retorts 



furnished 



