1819.] on the Oxygenized Acids and Oxides. 11 
potash. I shall mention in particular the peroxide of manga- 
nese and that of lead. Only a small quantity of these oxides in 
powder is necessary to drive the whole of the oxygen from the 
saline solution. The effervescence is lively. I believe that the 
peroxide of manganese does not undergo any alteration. It is 
possible that the peroxide of lead may be reduced to a less 
degree of oxidation. 
13. Itis known that nitric acid has no action on the peroxide 
or manganese and of lead ; but this is not the case with oxyge- 
nized nitric acid. It dissolves both of them with the greatest 
facility. The solution is accompanied by a great disengagement 
of oxygen gas. Potash produces in the manganese solution a 
black, flocky precipitate ; and in that of lead, a brick coloured 
precipitate. ‘Vhis last is less oxydized tian peroxide of lead; for 
when treated with nitric acid, we obtain nitrate of lead and a flea 
coloured residuum... At the instant of the addition of the potash 
there is a strong effervescence. 
14. The oxygenized sulphates, phosphates, and fluates, exhibit 
the same phenomena with the oxide of silver, with silver, and 
probably with other bodies, as the oxygenized nitrate and 
muriate of potash. The greater number of the oxygenized alka- 
line salts possess the same properties as the oxygenized salts of 
otash, 
. What is the cause of the phenomena which we have just 
stated? This is a question which we must endeavour hereafter 
to resolve. , 
For this purpose, let us recall the phenomena which oxide of 
silver and silver exhibit with the neutral oxygenized nitrate of 
potash. Silyer in a fine powder rapidly disengages the oxygen 
of this salt. It undergoes no alteration, and the oxygenized 
nitrate is reduced to the state of simple nitrate. 
The oxide of silver disengages still more rapidly than silver 
the oxygen of the oxygenized nitrate. It is itself decomposed ; 
it is reduced ; the silver is totally precipitated ; and we find in 
the liquid only common neutral nitrate of potash. Now in these 
decompositions the chemical action is evidently null. We must, 
therefore, ascribe them to a physical cause ; but they depend 
neither upon heat nor upon light. Hence it follows, that they 
are probably owing to electricity. I shall endeavour to ascertain 
this point in a positive mamner. I shall endeavour to ascertain 
likewise whether the cause, be it what it may, cannot be pro- 
duced by the contact of two liquids and even of two gases. 
From this, perhaps, will be derived the explanation of a great 
variety of phenomena. 
