dN THE DECOMPOSITION OF THE EA&THS. 371 



same proportions, was electrified in the same manner. A 



small mass of solid amalgam adhered to the negative wircj 



which evidently contained a substance, Mhat produced 



barytes by exposure to air, with the absorption of oxigen ; 



and which occasioned the evolution of hidrogen from water, 



leading pure mercury, and producing a solution of barytes. 



Mixtures of lime, strontites, magnesia, and red oxide of Lime, strontia, 

 ^» , , . , ... , and magnesia 



mercury, treated in the same manner, gave similar amal- ^irith the same 



gams, from which the alkaline earths were regenerated by oxide. 

 the action of air or water, with like phenomena ; but the 

 quantities of metallic substatices obtained were exceedingly 

 minute; they appeared as mere superficial formations sur- 

 rounding the point of the wire, nor did they increase after 

 the first few minutes of electrization, even when the process 

 was carried on for some hours. 



These experiments Avere made previous to April, 1808, ■'^ "^^^*'''**^T 

 ,.,.,, • , . • , , employea. 



at which time the batteries were so much injured by con- 

 stant use, as no longer to form an efficient combination. 

 The inquiry was suspended for a short time ; but in May I 

 was enabled to resume it, by employing a new and much 

 more powerful combination, constructed in the Laboratory 

 of the Royal Institution, and consisting of five hundred 

 pairs of double plates of six inches square. 



When 1 attempted to obtain amalgams with this appa- 

 ratus, the transmitting wires being of platina, of about ^'jy 

 of an inch in diameter ; the heat generated was so great as. 

 to burn both the mercury and basis of the amalgam at the 

 moment of its formation; and when, by extending the sur- 

 ifaces of the conductors, this power of ignition was modified, 

 yet still the amalgam was only produced in thin films, and 

 I could not obtain globules sufficiently large to submit to 

 distillation. When the transmitting wires were of iron of 

 the same thickness, the iron acquired the temperature of 

 ignition, and combined with the bases of the earths in pre- 

 ference to the mercury, and metallic alloys of a dark gray 

 Colour were obtained, which acted on water with the evolu- 

 tion of hidrogen, and were converted into oxide of iron, 

 and alkaline earths. 



While I was engaged in these experiments, in the be- Pontin and 

 ginning of Jane, I received a letter from Professor Ber- JJ^^J^^^^^;;^;;^^^ 



^ B 2 zelius mercury in con- 



