ON THE ALKALINE METALLOIDS. g45 



From the present investii^ation it appears to be established, Potassium ap- 



that potassium contains hidroeen. This rests on two facts; parer.tly con-^ 

 ^ , , , . , • t • • tains hidrogen. 



Jirsty that potash, which is proved to contain water, gives out 



no hidrogen, when converted into potassium by galvanism; 



and secondly, that potassium in combining with oxigen 



forms potash containing water, 



Gay-Lussac and Thcnard, soon after the publication of fjypQtheses of 

 Mr. Davy's discovery of the metallization of the alkalis, Gay-Lussac, 

 proposed a different theory of the process from that which Dait^n ' 

 he had advanced. They considered the new metals as 

 compouiids of the alkalis with hidrogen. Mr. Dalton has 

 embraced this view, partly from the consideration of the 

 presence of water in fus^d potash, and partly from the con- 

 sideration of the levity and volatility of potassium. The 

 facts above established, it may be supposed, are in con- 

 formity to this theory. They may no doubt be explained 

 by it, while they seem not reconcilable to the hypothesis of 

 Mr. Davy. I would propose however a different view, 

 equally adapted to these phenomena, and as it appears to 

 ine more conformable to analogy, 



I would suppose with Mr. Davy, that, in the production Mr. Murray's, 

 of potassium and sodium, the potash and soda are decom- 

 posed; the oxigen, which I also suppose combined with 

 them in these alkalis, being disengaged at the positive side. 

 But instead of regarding them as the real bases of the al- 

 kalis, I would consider them as compounds of these bases 

 with hidrogen. While the alkali is decomposed by the 

 galvanic action, the water it contains must equally be de- 

 composed ; the oxigen of both will, in conformity to the 

 law which regulates galvanic decomposition, be attracted 

 to the positive side, and at the negative side the metallic 

 base of the alkali will be evolved; and the hidrogen of the 

 water, being there also in conformity to the same law disen- 

 gaged, will in its nascent state combine with that base.' 

 The potassium or the sodium is the product of this combi- 

 nation. The theory of the proiluction of these substances in Themetal- 

 the decomposition of the alkalis by iron at a high tempera- '°"^^ formed 

 ture, in conformity to these views, must be obvious — the nje ium of 

 iron attracting the oxigen both of the alkali, and of the ''"Q" probably 

 water, an4 the hidrogen of the water combining with the reaf smXIprojior. 



njetallic 



