10 Some Experiments and OhservatioJis on a new Substance 



MTien the compound of the substance with silver was treated 

 in the same manner (a>\s;c?}tane) muriate of silver was formed, 

 and the substance coml)ined with chlorine at the commencement 

 of the operation, but was disengaged uncombined towards the 

 end. 



Similar phenomena occurred when the compounds of the 

 substance with mercurv and lead were acted on bv chlorine. 



The action of acids on the compounds of this substance is 

 what might be expected from its analogies to chlorine. 



When concentrated s'.iljjhuric acid is poured upon the com- 

 pound of the substance and potassium, some of the substance 

 appears ; but a part of it rises in combination with hydrogen 

 and water, and condenses by cold, and appears of a deep orange 

 colour from having dissolved some of the substance. The sul- 

 phuric acid likewise seems to retain some of the substance ; for 

 it continues red after being strongly heated, and the acid is 

 partly dci*oniposed, for sulphurous acid gas is disengaged. 



It seems probable, that the acid is decomposed to furnish 

 oxygen to a portion of the potassium which quits in consequence 

 the new substance, and that water is likewise decomposed to 

 furnish hydrogen to another portion of the substance ; and that 

 the hydrogen and the substance, in their acid form, combine 

 with the water of the sulphuric acid, and rise in vapour, sulphate 

 of pitassa being at the same time produced. 



\\'hen sulphuric acid is poured on the salt consisting of the 

 substance, oxygen, and potassium, the substance reappears, and 

 there is a slight effervescence. In this case, part of the oxygen 

 is employed to form poi;3ssa, and the. remainder is expelled" un- 

 altered. 



When concentrated nitric acid is made to act on the triple 

 compound, similar phaenomena occur, and the substance reap- 

 pears with effervescence. 



When nitric acid is applied to the double compound, there is 

 a smell of nitrous ga?, and the substance is instantly repro- 

 duced. 



With concentrated muriatic acjd, the phsenomcna pre^nted 

 by the two different alkaline compounds, the binary and the 

 triple, are very interesting. When the acid is brought in con- 

 tact with the triple salt, there is no effervescence, but a sub- 

 stance, which appears to be a compound of chlorine and the 

 new botly, is formed and dissolved in the water of the acid, and 

 potassane is precipitated. 



When the double compound is used, there is a complete so- 

 lution with a partial decomposition ; and by applying a gentle 

 heat, the excess of muriatic acid is driven off, and the same acid 

 as that procured by the action of the substance on hydrogen re- 

 mains 



