26 DECOMPOSITION OF BORACIC ACID. 



should prevent I though':, that, by adding this acid to a mixture capable of 



the formation j • , , , , „ M . . , , 



of potassium. P r °ducingthe metal oJ potash, it would not only prevent its 



production, but likewise be converted into the new sub- 

 stance obtained by decomposing. the metal of potash by bo- 

 racic acid. 

 It does so. To prove how far this conjecture was well founded, I in- 



troduced into a gunbarrel the result of the detonation of six 

 parts of vegetable charcoal, four of refined borax, and two 

 of nitrate of potash. I afterward tried to extract the alka- 

 line metal, but, as I had foreseen, no metal was disen- 

 gaged. 

 The product When the matter was cold, I lixiviated it with a sufficient, 

 quantity of boiling water, in order to take up all the soluble 

 substances it might contain. I afterward evaporated the 

 solution till it was completely concentrated, and let it cool. 

 does not yield Having obtained from the liquor only part of the borax 1 

 the whole oi jj a( j em pi y e( } j an( j tne liquid itself, after having been 

 slightly acidulated, yielding me but very little boracic acid; 

 I concluded, that the surplus of this acid had remained 

 combined with the charcoal, and must be in the state, in 

 part of its aaid wn > c h Messrs. Thenard and Gay-Lussac found that, which 

 having com- they had treated with the metal of potash. What seemed 

 charcoaf still to support this opinion was, I observed the residuum of 



the calcination was of a black bottle green. 

 The insoluble To satisfy myself whether in fact the boracic acid were 

 residuum contained in the insoluble residuum, I poured on the coal, 



treated with ... 



muicacid, while still wet, a certain quantity of nitric acid. I after- 

 ward subjected the mixture to the action of a gentle heat. 

 A brisk effervescence soon took place, which I ascribed to 

 the oxigenation of the substance, that has been designated. 

 by the name of bore*, which resumed its former state, 

 yielded there- When the acid ceased to act on the residuum, I lixivia- 

 maining pro- ted the mixture. The liquors I obtained being afterward 

 racic add. suitably evaporated, I obtained by cooling the remainder of 

 the boracic acid, which was nearly the whole contained in the 

 borax I had employed. 

 This experi- This experiment, which I have repeated several times with 



mem does not the ,. me success, though it has a great analogy with that, 

 raciTacidto " * n "which the alkaline metal is made to act immediately on 

 * Journal, vol. XXIII, p. 2C2. 



