292 NATURE AiJD DECOMPOSITION OF THE FIXED ALKAlIS. 



the strength of the opposite electricities in the circuit, aud 



to the conducting power and degree of concentration of the 



materials employed. 



Aqueous sdu- In ti^g fi^gt attempts that 1 made on the decomposition of 



tions of the al- ,»,,,,. t i ^ • n 



kalis. the fixed alkahs, I acted upon aqueous solutions of potash 



and soda, saturated at common temperatures, by the highest 

 electrical power I could command, and which was produced 

 by a combination of Voltaic batteries belonging to the Royal 

 Institution, containing 24 plates of copper and zinc of 12 

 inches square, 100 plates of 6 inches, and 150 of 4 inches 

 square, charged with solutions of alum and nitrous acid ; 

 but in these cases, though there was a high intensity of ac- 

 tion, the water of the solutions alone was affected, and hi- 

 drogen and oxigen disengaged with the production of much 

 heat and violent effervescence. 

 Potash in fu- The presence of water appearing thus to prevent any de- 

 ' composition, I used potash in igneous fusion. By means 



of a stream of oxigen gas from a gasometer applied to the 

 flame of a spirit lamp, which was thrown on a platina spoou 

 containg potash, this alkali was kept for some minutes in a 

 eonnectedwith strong red heat, and in a state of perfect fluidity. The spoon 

 s'de^°""'^ was preserved in communication with the positive side of the 

 battery of the power of 100 of 6 inches, highly charged ; 

 and the connection from the negative side was made by a 

 platina wire. 

 Appeared to By this arrangement some brilliant phenomena were pro- 

 conduct^^'^ " duced. The potash appeared a conductor in a high degree, 

 and as long as the communication was preserved, a most 

 intense light was exhibited at the r^egative wire, tnJ a co- 

 Flame emitted, lumn of flame, which seemed to be owing to the develope- 

 ment of combustible matter, arose from the point of con- 

 tact. 

 Connected "When the order was changed, so that the platina spoon 



with the nega- ^j^g j^y^^^ negative, a vivid and constant light appeared at 

 live side. . *> . , a- r • n 



the opposite point : there was no eiiect of inflammation 



round it; but aeriform globules, which inflamed in the at- 

 mospliere, rose through the potash. 

 The platina The platina, as might have been expected, was consider- 



aciedupon. ^^^y ^cted upon: and in the cases when it had been nega- 

 tive, in the highest degree. 



The 



