ID On snme-neu' anaJijtical Researches 



there is a considerable loss of uitrogeii, and a production of 

 oxyeen and inflammable gas. 



And in the aciion of waier upon the residuimi, in the ex- 

 periment page j'2, there is an apparent generation of nitro- 

 gen. 



How can these extraordinary results be explained ? 



The deconipositiun and composition of nitrogen seem 

 proved, allowing the correctness f)f the data ; and one of its 

 elements appears to be o.wgen ; but what is its other elc- 

 nieutary matter ? 



Is the iias that iippears to possess the properties of hvdro- 

 cen, a new species of inflammable aeriform substance? 



Or has nitrogen a metallic basis which alloys with the 

 iron or platina? 



Or is water alike the po/itft-raWe matter of nitrogen, hy- 

 drogen, and oxygen ? 



Or is nitrogen a compound of hydrogen with a larger pro- 

 portion of oxvgen than exists in water ? 



These important questions, the two first of which seem 

 the least likelv to be answered in the affirmative, from the 

 correspondence between the weight of the anmionia decom- 

 posed, and the products, supposing them to be known sub- 

 stances, I shall use every effort to solve by new labours, 

 and I hope soon to be able to communicate the results of 

 further experiments on the subject to the Society. 



As the inquiry now stands, it is however sufficiently de- 

 monstrative, that the opinion which I had ventured to form 

 respecting the decomjrabiiion of ammonia in this experiment, 

 i? correct; and that MM. Gay Lussac's and Thenard's idea 

 of the decomposition of the potassium, and their theory of 

 Its being compounded of hydroeen and potash, are unfounded. 



For a considerable part of the potassium is recovered un- 

 altered, and in the entire decomposition of the fusible sub- 

 siance, there is only a small excess of hydrogen above that 

 existing in the ammonia acted upon. 



The mere phsenomena of the process likewise, if minutely 

 examined, prove the same thing. 



A:tir the first slight etftrvcscence, owing to the water ab- 

 »«rbtd by the potash formed upon the potassium during its 



exposure 



