NATURE AND DECOMPOSITION OF THB FIXED ALKALIS. grjo 



When the union is e.Tected in the atmosphere, a great in- 

 ilammation takes place, and sulphuret of potash is formed. 

 The sulphuretted basis likewise gradually becomes oxigen- 

 ated by exposure to the air, and is finally converted into 

 sulphate. 



The new substance produces some extraordinary and Mercury. 

 beautiful results with mercury. When one part of it is 

 added to 8 or 10 parts of mercury in volume l60° Fahren- 

 heit, they instantly unite and form a substance exactly like 

 mercury in colour, but which seems to bave less coherence, 

 for small portions of it appear as flattened spheres. When 

 a globule is made to touch a globule of mercury about 

 twice as large, they combine with considerable heat; the 

 compound is fluid at the temperature of its formation; but 

 when cool it appears as a solid metal, similar in colour to 

 silver. If the quantity of the basis of potash is still farther 

 increased, so as to be about ^V^ti the weight of the mercury, 

 the amalgam increases in hardness, and becomes brittle. 

 The solid amalgam, in which the basis is in the smallest ^ 



proportion, seems to consist of about I part in weight of 

 basis and 70 parts of mercury, and is s<i\-^ soft and mal- 

 leable. 



When these compounds are exposed to air, they rapidly Separates un- 

 X. X. • u u- u J V ■ V 1 J • ^'^"^^ed fmni 



absorb oxigen; potash which deliquesces is tormed; and in the potash 



a few minutes the mercury is found pure and unaltered. formed. 



When a globule of the amaWam is thrown into v/ater, it Jheair.algatn 

 ^ _ _ '/ . • . , decomposes 



rapidly decomposes it with a hissing noise; potash is form- water, 



ed, pure hidrogen disengaged, and the mercuiy remains 



free. 



The fluid amalgam of mercurv and this substance dis- ^"^ ^'^^'^'^^ 

 , " , . , . , . all metals. 



solves all the metals 1 have exposea to it; and in tms state 



of union mercury acts on iron and platina. 



in the proportion of three to one, rendered very dry, were healed toge- 

 ther in a retort, connected with & mercurial pneumatic apparatus. At 

 the moment of combination a quantity of elastic fluid was liberated 

 amounting to 9 or 10 tim s the volume of the materials employed, and 

 which cons:isted of sulphuretted hidrogen mixed with ^olphuious acid- 

 The first mentioned product, there is every reason to believe, must be 

 referred to the sulphur, the last probably to the copper, which it is easy 

 to, conceive may liave become slightly and superficially oxidated during 

 the processes of filing and drying by heat. 



When 



