1811.] Philosophical Transactions, Part I. 1814. -141 



attracted to the positive ball. A stream, of muriatic acid gas was 

 attracted towards the positive ball. This was the case likewise with 

 nitrous gas. Potassium in combustion and its fumes were drawn to 

 the negative ball. The results with ammonia were uncertain. 

 Vapour of benzoic acid was attracted by the positive ball. But 

 when benzoin was burnt, the il.ime and smoke took the opposite 

 direction. The charcoal emitted by camphor in combustion is 

 attracted by the negative ball. Resinous bodies exhibit the same 

 appearances as camphor ; and amber the same as benzoin. 



These experiments possess considerable value, by furnishing 

 additional facts in support of a theory which promises to new 

 model both the sciences of electricity and chemistry. I cannot at 

 present enter into any discussion respecting this theory without 

 deviating from my general plan ; but an opportunity will soon 

 occur of laving an abstract of it before the reader, and of examining 

 how far it is supported by facts, and consistent with the known 

 laws of chemistry and electricity. 



5. An Acctiunt of some Netv Experiments on the Fluoric Com- 

 pounds, with tomb Observations on other Objects of Chemical In- 

 quiry, By Sir H.Davy, LL.D. F.R.S. V.P.R.I.— It has been 

 repeatedly mentioned in the Annals that Sir H. Davy has adopted 

 an hypothesis originally suggested by M. Ampere ; that fluoric acid 

 is a compound of hydrogen and an unknown supporter, to which he 

 has given the name of fluorine; that silicated fluoric acid is a com- 

 pound of fluorine and the basis of silica; and fluoboric acid, of 

 fluorine and boron. The object of the first part of this paper is to 

 give an account of some unsuccessful attempts to obtain fluorine in 

 a separate state. 



Fluate of lime, while moist, is decomposed by ammonia, and a 

 white powder separated ; but dry fluate of read may be fused in 

 ammonia without undergoing any change. When moist silicated 

 fluate of ammonia and fluo-borate of ammonia are heated in chlo- 

 rine, silica and boraeic acid arc given out; but when these bodies 

 are drv, muriate of ammonia is formed, and silicated fluoric acid 

 and fluoboric acid disengaged. Charcoal, ignited by means of the 

 galvanic battery in fluoboric or silicated fluoric acids, produces no 

 decomposition. Liquid fluoric acid passed over charcoal, heated to 

 whiteness in a platinum tube, tras not decomposed. 



A hundred parts of pure white Derbyshire spar, when decom- 

 posed by sulphuric acid, yield 175*2 of sulphate of lime. Now 

 175*2 of sulphate of lime contain 7 :i ""' s lime. Therefore if wc 

 Adopt the common opinion that Derbyshire spar is a fluate of lime, 

 it composition will be 



Fluoric acid -''M.' 100 



Lime 7.i-r»s 2Q&49 



100-00 

 d if (hit .ding to the analogy of the other balt5 of 



