THE GREAT LONDON CHEMISTS 51 



hydrogen, he next attempted to pass a very powerful 

 current through the fused alkalies. Potash was fused in 

 a platinum spoon, connected with the positive side of a 

 battery ; and a platinum wire, connected with the negative 

 pole of the battery, was dipped into the fused alkali. The 

 result was an intense light at the negative wire, and a 

 column of flame from the point of contact. On reversing 

 the current, 'aeriform globules, which inflamed in the 

 atmosphere, rose through the potash.' The substance 

 produced was evidently inflammable, and was destroyed 

 at the moment of liberation. Better results were obtained 

 by the use of slightly moist potash ; and small metallic 

 globules were collected, ' precisely similar in visible char- 

 acteristics to quicksilver.' c These globules numerous ex- 

 periments soon showed to be the substance I was in search 

 of, and a peculiar inflammable substance, the basis of 

 potash.' Soda gave an analogous result; and thus the 

 metals of the alkalies were discovered. 



These new metals burned in oxygen, forming the 

 alkalies from which they had been obtained ; they also 

 burned in ' oxymuriatic acid/ forming ' muriates ' of potash 

 or soda. They decompose water with evolution of hydro- 

 gen, giving solutions of the respective alkalies ; and they 

 form compounds with sulphur and with phosphorus. 

 They reduce metals such as copper, iron, lead, and tin 

 from their oxides ; and they attack glass, apparently 

 liberating the ' basis of the silex.' 



Fairly accurate estimations were made of the proportion 

 of these new metals in the alkalies, which were believed 

 by Davy to be oxides ; and thus the approximate composi- 

 tion of these compounds, which at one time were believed 

 to be elements, was definitely established. 



Although similar phenomena were seen with the alka- 

 line earths 'barytes' and ' strontites,' it was not found 

 possible to isolate the metals ; but on electrolysing with a 



