DECOMPOSITION OF BORACIC ACID. 25 



though the same as they made known the 21st of June last, 

 has acquired a fresh interest, from the explanation they have 

 given of the phenomena, that take place during the experi- 

 ment*, in fact, if, agreeably to these chemists, horacic 

 acid be decomposed by the alkaline metals, and lose its acid 

 properties by the subtraction of the oxigen, which is admit- 

 ted to enter into its composition, this conclusion must be this is an oxide 

 formed, that potash is aa oxigenized substance; and that the aild nol acora- 



alkaline metals are not, as I think I have proved, a com- P°» n J ° f P°" 



tashjlitdrogen, 

 pound of alkali with hidrogen and carbon, or, if j ou please, an d car bon: 



with hidrogen solely. We must equally infer, that the si- and silex is an 



lex, with which I have shown the alkaline, metals may rea- °xigenizmg 



..." substance. 



dily be decomposed-)-, is likewise an oxigemzing substance, 



which, instead of being the instrument of a decomposition, 



is decomposed itself. These points at least follow from the 



explanation they have given of the decomposition of the bo- 



racic acid. In this point of view however my experiment of 



the decomposition of the alkaline metals by means of silex 



is interesting, since it would prove this substance to be an 



oxide. 



However, as in admitting such an hypothesis we cannot xjiis hypothe- 

 explain all the phenomena observed during the decosnposi- sis does notex- 

 tion of the boracic acid by means of the alkaline metals, I phenomena 8 

 conceived it would not be amiss to make some fresh experi- 

 ments on this subject ; in order to ascertain on the one hand, 

 whether it were true, that the boracic acid is an oxigenized 

 substance; and to discover on the other, if possible, what 

 became of the hidrogen and carbon of the alkaline metal, 

 which disappear in this experiment, without Thenard and 

 Gay Lussac having told us any thing of what they conjec- 

 ture in this respect. The result of my labours I now sub- 

 mit to the examination of the class, hoping, that it will per- 

 ceive in my zeal no other motive, than that of paying a 

 fresh tribute to science. 



Among the experiments I have attempted, the following 

 particularly attracted my attention. 



As boracic acid readily decomposes the metal of potash, Boracic acid 



* See Journal, vol. XXIII, p. 260. 

 *{• See Art. VI of our present number. 



I thought 



