8 On some new anahjtkal Researches 



I hoped that an experiment of expt'sing the rijsidimm \o 

 intense heat iniiiht enUghien the inquiry. I distilled one oi 

 the portions which had been covered with naphtha, inatube 

 of wrought platina made for the purpose. The tube had 

 been exhausted and tilled with hydrogen, and exhausted 

 again, and was then connected with a pneumatic incrcurial 

 apparatus. Heat was al first slo>vly applied till the naphtha 

 had been driven over, it was then raided rapidly bv an ts- 

 cellent force. Wheii the tube became chcrrv red, gas was 

 developed ; it continued to be generated for some n)mutcs. 

 Whey the tube had. received the most intense heai that 

 could be applied, the operation was stopped. The quantity 

 of gas collected, niaking the proper corrections and rctiuc- 

 tion?, would have been three cubical inches and a hull at 

 iha mean temperature and pressure. Twelve measures of it 

 were mixed with six of oxygen gas, the electrical Sfark was 

 passed through the mixture; a strong inflannnation took 

 place, the diminution was to three measures and a half, and 

 the residuum contained oxyecn. This experiment was re- 

 peated upon ditierent quantities with the same comparative 

 results. 



In examining the platina tube, which had a screw adapted 

 to it at the lower extremity, by means of which it could 

 be opened, the lower part was found to contain po'ash, 

 which had ail the prrpjrties of the pure alkali, and in the 

 upper part there was a quantity of potassium. Watc poured 

 into the tube produced a violent heat and inflammation, 

 but no smell of ammonia. 



This result was so unexpected and so extraordinary, that 

 I at first supposed there was some source of error. I had 

 calculated upon procuring nitrogen as the only aeriform 

 product ; I obtained an clastic fluid which gave much more 

 diminution by detonation with oxygen, than that produced 

 from ammonia by electricity. 



I now made the experiment, by heating the entire fusible 

 substance, frf)m six grains of potassium which had absorbed 

 twelve cubical inches of ammonia, in the iron lube, in the 

 manner before^descrilKid. The heat was gradually raised to 

 whiteness, and ih-.: ps collected m two portions. The 

 8 whole 



