404 Oh some new Eleclrochemical Researches 



potassium was employed in quantities of from three to four 

 grains, and the absorption of the ammonia conducted as 

 usual, in a retort of glass free from metallic oxides; and in 

 a tray of platina. 



In some of the processes, in which the heat was rapidly 

 applied, some of the gray matter, which I have formerly 

 described as a pyrophorus, passed over in distillation, and 

 in these cases there was a considerable deficiency of hy- 

 drogen, as well as nitrogen, in the results of the experi- 

 ment ; but when the heat was very slowly raised, the loss 

 was much less considerable, and in several cases I ob- 

 tained more than four- fifths of the potassium which had 

 been employed ; and very nearly the whole of the nitrogen, 

 existing in the ammonia that had been acted upon. 



I shall give an account of one process, conducted with 

 scrupulous attention. The barometer was at 302'"', ther- 

 mometer at 54^ Fahrenheit. Three grains and a half of 

 potassium were heated in 12 cubical inches of ammo- 

 nia, 7*5 were absorbed, and 3*2 of hydrogen evolved. 

 The fusible substance was not exposed to the atmosphere, 

 but was covered with dry mercury, and immediately intro- 

 duced into the tube; which, with its adaptors, was ex- 

 hausted, and filled with hydrogen. They contained to- 

 gether -jSg- of a cubical inch. The heat was very slowly 

 applied by means of a fire of charcoal, till the tube was 

 ignited to whiteness. Nine cubical inches of gas were 

 given off, and ? of a cubical inch remained in the retort 

 and adaptors. Of the 9 cubical inches, ^ of a cubical inch 

 was ammonia, 10 measures of the permanent gas, mixed 

 with 7*5 of oxygen, and acted upon by the electrical spark, 

 left a residuum of 7'5. The quantity of potassium formed, 

 _ was such as to generate by its action upon water three 

 cubical inches and -p^-g- of hydrogen gas. 



Now if this experiment be calculated upon, it will be 

 found, that 7*5 — •2= to 7*3 of ammonia, by its electrical 

 decomposition, would afford about 13*1 of permanent gas, 

 containing 3*4 of nitrogen, and 9*7 of hydrogen. But the 

 3*2 cubical inches of hydrogen, evolved in the first part of 

 the process, added to the 5*8 evolved in the second part of 

 the process, ---9; and the nitro'gen in the 8*8 cubical inches 

 of gas (or the 9 — '2 of ammonia) will be about 3, and 

 if we estimate '34 of hydrogen, and '16 of nitrogen, in 

 the *5, remaining in the retort; there will be very little 

 difference in the results of the analysis of ammonia by 

 electricity, and by the action of potassium ; aud calculating 



upon 



