i86 CLASSICS OF MODERN SCIENCE 

 matter, but without success ; and I only attained my object by employ- 

 ing electricity as the common agent for fusion and decomposition. 



Though potash, perfectly dried by ignition, is a non-conductor, 

 yet it is rendered a conductor by a very slight addition of moisture, 

 which does not perceptibly destroy its aggregation; and in this 

 state it readily fuses and decomposes by strong electrical powers. 



A small piece of pure potash, which had been exposed for a few 

 seconds to the atmosphere, so as to give conducting power to the sur- 

 face, was placed upon an insulated disc of platina, connected with 

 the negative side of the battery of the power of 250 of 6 and 4, in 

 a state of intense activity; and a platina wire, communicating with 

 the positive side, was brought in contact with the upper surface of 

 the alkali. The whole apparatus was in the open atmosphere. 



Under these circumstances a vivid action was soon observed to 

 take place. The potash began to fuse at both its points of electriza- 

 tion. There was a violent effervescence at the upper surface; at 

 the lower, or negative surface, there was no liberation of elastic 

 fluid ; but small globules having a high metallic lustre, and being pre- 

 cisely similar in visible characters to quicksilver, appeared, some of 

 which burnt with explosion and bright flame, as soon as they were 

 formed, and others remained, and were merely tarnished, and finally 

 covered by a white film which formed on their surfaces. 



These globules, numerous experiments soon showed to be the sub- 

 stance I was in search of, and a peculiar inflammable principle the 

 basis of potash. I found that the platina was in no way connected 

 with the result, except as the medium for exhibiting the electrical 

 powers of decomposition ; and a substance of the same kind was pro- 

 duced when pieces of copper, silver, gold, plumbago, or even char- 

 coal were employed for completing the circuit. 



The phenomenon was independent of the presence of air ; I found 

 that it took place when the alkali was in the vacuum of an exhausted 

 receiver. 



The substance was likewise produced from potash fused by means 

 of a lamp, in glass tubes confined by mercury, and furnished with 

 hermetically inserted platina wires by which the electrical action was 

 transmitted. But this operation could not be carried on for any 

 considerable time; the glass was rapidly dissolved by the action of 



