DECOMPOSITION OF BORACIC ACID. Qj 



the boracic acid, is far from proving however, as has been contain oxi- 

 as-e:ted, that this acid is an oxigenizeci body. In fact, if it S en - 

 were, why, when treated alone with charcoal, does it not ex- 

 perience the same decomposition, as when it is combined 

 with an alkali ? How too can the alkali, which according to 

 the hypothesis is itself an oxide, promote the disoxigenation 

 of another oxide? Should it not be on the contrary, from 

 the very nature of my experiment, an obstacle so much the 

 greater to the decomposition of the boracic acid ; as all the 

 acids when combined with a base are less adapted for de- 

 composition ? This experiment then must afford an instance 

 of an anomaly so much the more striking, if it were to the 

 oxige i that we must ascribe the action of the boracic acid 

 on the metal of potash. It would equally involve a mani- 

 fest contradiction, if we were to admit, that the new sub- 

 stance, into which the boracic acid is transformed, is more 

 simple than the acid was, before its state was changed. 



We see then, that the experiment of the decomposition The substance 

 of borate of soda by means of carbon is far from proving, cal ' eQ bore n °t 

 that the new substance, which Messrs. Thenard and Gay- radical, 

 Lussac obtained from boracic acid, is the radical of that 

 acid. We see too, it proves still less, that oxigen is one of and the alkalis 

 the constituent principles of the alkalis, as the celebrated not oxldes - 

 English chemist, Davy, continues to believe. 



Thus the experiments, from which I think I have demon- The new me- 

 strated, that the alkaline metals are nothing but a compound M» compounds 

 of the alkali with hidrogen and carbon, acquire fresh force; carhon^and al- 

 and so that the facts, which would seem to be adverse to kan « 

 them, on the contrary confirm the deductions I have made 

 from them. 



For instance, does not the decomposition of the alkaline Their decom- 

 metals by boracic acid, instead of proving, that the pheno- f a ° c Tc add 7 b °' 

 mena observed during this experiment are to be ascribed to proves these. 

 oxigen, on the contrary show, that this principle acts no 

 part in it? and that it is rather a supracomposirion of the 

 boracic acid, than the loss of one of its principles, which oc- 

 casions the new properties it acquires? 



However, if this supracomposition of the boracic acid be Pore a supra. 

 not admitted, how shall we explain why there is no hidro- compound. 

 gen, or next to none, disengaged during the decomposition 



of 



