Chemico- Galvanic Observations. 65 



found the characteristics of ammonia in water thus alka- 

 lized, opposes this opinion. This water speedily changed 

 into green the spirituous tincture of purple althea, a re-agent, 

 according to Brugnatdli, the most sensible of all others to 

 the presence of the alkalis ; it whitened the solution of sil- 

 ver : sometimes this alkali is effervescent, and precipitate* 

 lime in lime water; but it is so diluted in water, that it 

 gives it no sensible taste. 



An experiment, made by the author two years ago, had 

 already proved that Galvanism does not form ammonia. He 

 placed the black oxide of mercury at the bottom of a tubs 

 filled with distilled water, into which a gold wire entered 

 in communication with the negative pole of a pile. At the 

 end of twenty-four hours this wire was covered with revived 

 mercury wherever it had touched the water. This water re- 

 mained insipid, but it quickly turned the infusion of althea 

 into green. It might be pretended that it contained ammo- 

 niuret of mercury, but no traces of th'i3 metallic combina- 

 tion were found in it; and although it is always formed by a 

 prolonged contact of ammonia (even when very much di- 

 luted) with oxide of mercury, yet water alkalized by means 

 of Galvanism, however long continued upon this same ox- 

 ide, produces no ammoniuret. 



In order to determine, in short, which of the known al* 

 kalis existed in water negatively galvanized, the author di- 

 stilled two pounds of this liquid, alkalized by Galvanism in 

 various experiments, with a stripe of tin foil which came in 

 contact with the negative pole of some very energetic piles. 

 When the distillation was well advanced, pure water was 

 found in the receiver, and the residue in the retort had the 

 smell of fixed alkalis. Muriatic acid was added to it until 

 saturation : it was evaporated slowly in the air, and a great 

 many small cubes of muriate or soda were obtained. 



The author repeated this interesting experiment several 

 times, and always with the same success. Supposing that 

 the soda might come from the pile, the pasteboard dUks of 

 which were impregnated with a solution of common salt, 

 which had been decomposed by the action of the zinc (a3 

 it has often done), and made its alkaline base appear out of 



Vol. '25. No. 97. June 1806. E the 



