sqs 



Base of soda, 



Heated in oxi- 

 gen. 



Nothing emit" 

 ted. 



Alkalis pro- 

 duced. 



^Pvidence of 

 being a com- 

 pound of oxi- 

 gen and a base, 

 the same as 

 •with other 

 combustible 

 jnatters. 



NATURE AND DECOMPOSITION OF THE FIXED ALKALIS. 



sorption of oxigen took place; a crust of alkali instantly 

 formed upon the globule ; but from the want of moisture 

 for its solution, the process stopped, the interior being de- 

 fended from the action of the gas. 



With the substance from soda, the appearances and ef- 

 fects were analogous. 



When the substances were strongly heated, confined in 

 given portions of oxigen, a rapid combustion with a bril- 

 liant white tlame was produced; and the metallic globules 

 ■were found converted into a white and solid mass, which in 

 the case of the substance from potash was found to be pot- 

 ash, and in the case of that from soda, soda. 



Oxigen gas was absorbed in this operation, and nothing 

 emitted which affected the purity of the residual air. 



The alkalis produced were apparently dry, or at least 

 contained no more moisture than might well be conceived 

 to exist in the oxigen gas absorbed; and their weights con- 

 siderably exceeded those of the combustible matters con- 

 sumed. 



The processes on which these conclusions are founded 

 •will be fully described hereafter, when the minute details 

 which are necessary will be explained, and the proportions 

 6f oxigen, and of the respective inilammable substances, 

 which enter into union to form the fixed alkalis, will be 

 given. 



It appears then, that in these facts there is the same 

 evidence for the decomposition of potash and soda into 

 oxigen and two peculiar substances, as there is for the de- 

 composition of sulphuric and phosphoric acids and thp 

 metallic oxides into oxigen and their respective combustible 

 bases. 



Jn the analyticnl experiments, no substances capable of 

 decomposition are present but the alkalis and a minute 

 portion of moisture; which seems in no other way essential 

 to the result, than in- rendering them conductors at the 

 surface: for the new substances are not generated, till tiie 

 interiur, which is dry, begins to be fused; they explode 

 -when in rising through the fused alkali they come in con- 

 tact with the heated moistened surface; they cannot be pro- 

 duced from crystallized alkalis, which contain much water; 



and 



