1807. ^Ex. 29.] PROFESSOR DAVY. 315 



platina wire, as was evident from its quick inflammation 

 by the action of water. When the mercury was made 

 the negative, gas was developed in great quantities 

 from the positive wire, and none from the negative 

 mercury, and this gas proved to be pure oxygen a 

 capital experiment, proving the decomposition of potash. 

 ' A small quantity of alkaligen was produced round the 

 platina wire.' 



' The gas produced from alkaligen confined under 

 mercury by the contact of water seemed to be hydrogen 

 nearly pure. Soda decomposed with different pheno- 

 mena.' 



Davy made no more notes on that day. 



On the 20th he worked on the gas obtained from 

 sodagen and potagen, and writes, ' Barytes gave at the 

 oxygen side, when touched with the wire, an appearance 

 like combustion a bright rose-coloured light. Mem. : 

 To try what effect the hydrogen side will have upon it.' 



On the 21st he again worked on the gas, and says 

 the gas from ether, when properly washed, seemed to 

 be pure hydrogen. 



He then says, ' Examined the effect of heat this day 

 and last night of the peculiar substance.' Then he 

 notes the results, and then he continues, 'what can 

 be the reason if the metallic globule is composed of 

 A and H (alkaligen and hydrogen) What is the reason 

 that water and ether and alcohol saturated with potash 

 still act on it so energetically ? ' 



On the 24th he tried the substance with sulphur and 

 phosphorus. 



On the 25th, 26th, and 27th he worked on barytes, &c. 



