260 THE POTASSIUM 



It was with this knowledge of the high powers 

 of Potassium, that the author, whilst pursuing 

 his researches into the analogy of Light, Heat, 

 Electricity, &c. devised several experiments with 

 the intention of constructing a voltaic arrange- 

 ment, in which this metal should form one element. 

 At first, the Potassium, amalgamated, was sus- 

 pended by a copper wire in mineral naphtha, floating 

 upon dilute sulphuric acid. In the acid liquid 

 a plate of Platinum was arranged, in connexion 

 with one extremity of the galvanometer, to the 

 opposite extremity of which the Potassium wire 

 was attached. On lowering the Potassium down 

 to the surface of the acidulated water, a cur- 

 rent of 60° or 70° was observed, and a strong 

 action ensued, which after a few moments gener- 

 ally dislodged the metal from its connexions, and 

 put an end to the experiment. 



After many fruitless attempts permanently to 

 fasten the metal upon its wire of communication, 

 it was remembered that in one instance a very 

 efficient voltaic pair had been formed, in which 

 a simple copper wire of a spiral form merely 

 surrounded the wet bladder in which the zinc 

 element was immersed in dilute acid — being only 



