125 On some new analytical Researches 



When the product was examined by a magnifier, it evi- 

 ^entlv appeared consisting of different kinds of matter; a 

 blackish substance, a white, apparently saline substance, 

 and a substance having different shades of brown and fawn 

 colour. 



The mass did not conduct electricity, and none of its 

 piirts could be separated, so as to be examined as to this 

 property. 



When a portion of it was thrown into water, it effervesced 

 violently, and the ii;as evolved had some rfsemblancc in smell 

 to phosphuretted hydrogen, and was inflammable. 



When a part of the mass was healed in contact with air, 

 it burnt slowly, lost its brown colour, and became a white 

 saline mass. 



When heated in oxygen gas, in a retort of plate glass, it 

 absorbed a portion of oxygen, but burnt with difficulty, and 

 required lo he heated nearly to redness; and the light given 

 out was similar to that produced by the: combustion of liver 

 of sulphur. 



The water which had acted upon a portion of it was exa- 

 mined ; a number of chocolate- coloured particles floated in 

 it. When the solid matter was separated by the filter, the 

 fluid was found to contain fluateof potash, and potash. The 

 solid residuum was heated in a small glass retort in oxygen 

 gas ; it burnt before it had attained a red heat, and became 

 white. In this process, oxvgen was absorbed, and acid 

 ir.atter produced. The remainder possessed the properties of 

 the substance formed from fluoric acid gas holding siliceous 

 earth in solution, by the action of water. 



In experiments made upon the combustion of quantities 

 of potassium equal to from six to eleven grains^ the portion 

 of matter separable from the water has amounted lo a very 

 small part of a grain only, and operating upon so minute a 

 scale, I have not been able to gain fully decided evidence, 

 that the inflammabk- part of it is the pure basis of the fluoric 

 acid ; but with respect to the decomposition of this body by 

 potassium, and the existence of its basis at least combined 

 with a 5mall>;r proportion of oxygen in the solid product ge- 

 nerated, and the regeneration of the acid by the ignition of 

 this product in oxygen gas, it is scarcely possible to enter- 

 tain a doubt. 



The decotn position of the fluoric acid' by potassium, 

 stems analogous to that of the acids of sulphur and pbos- 

 n'.iorus. In neither of these cases are the pure bases, oreveii. 

 the "bases in their common form evolved ; but new com- 

 pounds result, and in one case sulphurets, and sulphites, and 



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