4$ NEW PROPERTIES OF THE ALKALINE METALS, 



of iron, which would tend to confirm the opinion I have 

 given in my paper on the decomposition of the alkalis. 

 - But I stop here, not to anticipate the question whether 

 the metal of the alkaiis contain carbon ; for since I had the 

 Trro e-xpftri- honour to address a note to the class, in which I mentioned 

 crate thTpre- two ex P eiiments > tnat appeared to me well fitted to demons 

 *<;nee ot car- strate the presence of carbon in the alkaline metals, doubts 

 bon»nthe»ew on t j.jj s i m p Qr tant point have arisen, J request the class 

 therefore, to allow me to make two experiments in its pre- 

 sence, against which I think nothing can be urged. 



The first is the separation of the carbon contained in the 

 metal of the alkalis without combustion: the second is the 

 oxidation of the carbon, so as to convert it directly into car- 

 bonic acid. 

 TT>at of hidro- As to the hidrogen, it is not so easy to demonstrate its 

 g*nnotsae\i- presence ; particularly for one like me, who must be ten 

 uteiu ..... , 



times in the right, to prove one truth. 



Tfcealkalisnot However, if I demonstrate, that the alkalis are not oxir 



being oxides genized bodies, I shall have attained my object; and the 



•bjeck' aC,P * question, whether hidrogen enter into the composition of the 



alkaline metals will be but asecondary consideration, which 



I propose to examine in another point of view. 



I now proceed to the experiments, which may render us 

 better acquainted with the nature and properties of the al- 

 kalis in the metallic form, 

 ©rounnsofthe Exp. 1. To prove the presence of carbon in the alka- 

 •uthor's pro- line metals, it was necessary for me to have recourse to the 

 eess. action of a substance, with which the alkalis have more affi- 



nity, than they have with the principles that constitute them 

 metals; and which at the same time should be incapable of 

 furnishing any element, that would combine with those I 

 sought to separate from the metallized alkalis. By these 

 means I was sure of having the carbon separate, and time 

 furnishing anew proof, that the carbonic acid produced in 

 burning the metal in lime-water arises from the oxigenation 

 of the carbon. 

 j ({ex Silex, from its indestructibility, the state of purity in 



which it is obtainable, and particularly its affinity for the al- 

 kalis, appeared to me to unite all the properties, that I 



wished 



