* lee e _ «* y ee “ 
300 Extrication of the ‘Alkalifiable Metals, — 
The best index of the success of, this ow is the evolution 
of chlorine ; since in proportion to the quanti y of this ‘principle 
extracted atthe anode, must be the quantity’of calcium separated 
at the cathode. During my o rations, chlori @ was,evolved so 
copiously as to tinge the cavity of the innermost bell with its. 
well known hue. Hence, when the evolution of chlorine ceases 
- to be very perceptible, the amalgam should be extricated from 
the paras and separated by a funnel and the finger from the 
solution of chloride, and immediately subjected to distillation. 
It has been mentioned, that in the electrolytic process above 
described I resorted to the alternate action of two deflagrators. 
Thisywas effected by making the negative poles of both commu- 
- nicate with the mercury in capsule D,-while the positive poles 
communicated with some mercury in capsule L. Fora descrip- 
tion of the deflagrators employed, I refer to the American Philo- 
sophical Transactions, vol. v, or to this Journal vol. xxxil, Pp. 285, 
as those which Lemployed: were of the kind there described. 
I have found great benefit to arise from Mr. Sturgeon’s expedi- 
ent of amalgamating the surfaces of the zinc; which Faraday 
has represented as giving, to a great extent, the yaa of a 
sustaining battery. Agreeably to my experience, it renders the 
plates less liable to be encrusted with suboxide of zine § and cop- 
per, which always impairs the energy of a voltaic series. 
Distillatory Apparatus and Process. 
A quantity of the amalgam, weighing § Fis: * r 
about three thousand grains, was intro- _ Ss ¥# 
duced into anironcrucible. Of this cru- 
cible a section is represented by Fig. 2, 
which was forthwith closed by a capsule 
seated in a rabbet, or groove, made on 
purpose to receive it. The capsule being 
supplied with about half a dram of caoutchouchine, was then 
covered by the lid. »In the next place, by means of a mons 
handle, or bail, of wire so constructed as to be easily attached, 
the crucible was transferred to the interior of the body of t 
alembic, A. Into the cavity thus occupied, about a dram meas 
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