JfATUHE AND DECOMPOSITION OF THE FIXED ALKALIS. Cg^ 



, The alkali was apparently dry in this experiment; and it Inflammable 

 seemed probable, that the inflammable matter arose from "'^"5'" ^■°'" 



_,, . . tneaecompo- 



its decomposition. The residual potash was unaltered ; it sition of ihe 

 contained indeed a number of dark gray metallic particles, ^^^*"* 

 J?ut these proved to be derived from the platina. 



I tried several experiments on the electrization of potash 

 rendered fluid by heat, with the hopes of being able to col- 

 lect the combustible matter, but without success; and I 

 only attained my object, by employing electricity as the 

 common agent for fusion and decomposition. 



Though potash, perfectly dried by ignition, is a non^on- A slight addi- 

 ductor, yet it is rendered a conductor by a very slight ad- ti'jnof mois- 

 <lition of moisture, >vhich does not perceptibly destroy its 

 aggregation ; and in this state it readily fuses and decom- 

 poses by strong electrical powers. 



A small piece of pure potash, which had been exposed Potash expos- 

 for a few seconds to the atmosphere, so as to give conduct- fg^ seconds 

 jug power to the surface, was placed upon an insplated disc 

 of platina, connected with the negative side of the battery 

 of the power of 250 of 6 and 4, i|:i a state of intense acti- 

 vity ; and a platina wire, communicating with the positjvje 

 side, was brought in contact with the upper surface of 

 the alkali. The whole apparatus was in the open atrao- ^"^ *''^ ^^^^' 

 sphere. open air. 



Under these circumstances a vivid action was soon pb- 

 uerved to take place, The potash began to fusp at both its 

 points of electrization. There was a violent effervescence at 

 the upper surfacp ; at the Ipvyer, pr negatiye surface, there 

 was no liberation of elastic fluid ; but small globules having Globules like 

 a high metallic Iqstre, awd being precisely similar in visible 5^^ ^ ^" 

 characters to quicksilver, appeared, some of v/hich burnt 

 with explosion and bright flame, as soon as they wpre 

 formed, and others remained, and were merely tarnished, 

 and Hnally covered by a white film which formed on their 

 surfaces. 



These globules numerous experiments soon showed to be These the in- 



the substance I was in search of, and a peculiar inflamina- ^^'^'"^^''^^*^* 



"^ . ot potash, 



ble priugiple, the basis of potash. I found that the plalina 



was in ho way connected with the result, exce[)t as the me- 

 dium for exhibiting the electrical powers of decomposition ; 



and 



