MATURE AND DECDMPOSITIQN OF THE FIXED ALKALfS. ^Q^ 



When the basis of potash ia thrown into camphor in fu- On camphor, 

 sion, the camphor soon becomes blackened, co gas is 

 liberated in the process of decomposition, and a saponfi- 

 ceous compound is formed ; which seems to show, that 

 camphor contains more oxigen than the volatile gils. 



The basis of potash readily reduces metallic oxides when O" metallic 

 hrated In contact with them. When a small qnantit3' of °^' ^*' 

 the oxide of iron was heated with it to a temperature ap- 

 proacising its point of distillation, there was a vivid action; 

 alkali and g-ray metallic particles, which dissolved with effer- 

 vescence in muriatic acid, appeared. The oxides of lead and 

 the oxides of tin were revived still more rapidly ; and when 

 the basis of potash was iti excess, an alloy was formed with 

 the revived metal. 



In consequence of this property, the basis of potash On glass. 

 readily decomposes flint glass and green glass, by a gentle 

 lieat; alkali is immediately formed by oxigen from the 

 oxides, which dissolves the glass, and a new surface is soon 

 exposed to the agent. 



At a red heat, even the purest glass is altered by the basis Its action on 

 of potash: the oxigen in the alkali of th^ glass seems to be .^^^ass explaia. 

 divided between the two bases, the basis of potash and the 

 clkaline basis in the glass, and oxides, in the first degree of 

 oxigeuation, are the result. When the basis of potash is 

 heated in tubes made of plate glass filled with the vapour 

 of naphtha, it first acts upon the small quantity of the 

 oxides of cobalt and manganese in the interior surface of 

 the glass, and a portion of alkali is formed. As the heat 

 approaches to redness, it begins to rise in vapour, and con- 

 denses in the colder parts of the tube; but at the point 

 where the heat is strongest, a part of the vapour seems to 

 penetrate the glass, rendering it of a deep red brown co- 

 lour ; and by repeatedly distilling and heating the substance 

 m a close tube of this kind, it finally loses its luetallic form, 

 and a thick brown crust, which slowly decomposes water, 

 and which combines with oxigen when exposed to air, form- 

 ing alkali, lines the interior of the tube, and in njany parts 

 ja found penetrating through its substance*. 



In 



* This is the obvious explanation in the present State of our know- perhaps the si* 

 Vot. XS— AtJO,l8.0S. X leAje; 



