136 



ANALYSIS or AMMONIA. 



]Vew analytical Researches on the Nature of certain Bodies, 

 being av Appendix to the Bakerian Lecture for 1808. Bi/ 

 Humphry Davy, Esq. Sec. R.S. Prof. Chem. R.I*. 



1. Farther hx^uiries on the Action of Potassium on Ammo- 

 nia and on the Analysis of Ammonia. 



Action of po- 

 tass iun on 

 fcnimonia. 



What is the 

 gas evolved ? 



Hi^rogen. 



Has nitrogen 



a metallic bu- 



Piobably not. 



J, HE most renifjvkable cirrumstances occuring in the ac* 

 tioa ot potassium upon ammonia are the disappearance of a 

 certain quantity of nitrogen,,ancl the conversion of a part of 

 the potassium into potash. 



The first query which I advanced in the last Bakerian 

 Lecture, on this obscure and difficult subject, was whether 

 the gas developed in the first part of the process of the ab- 

 sorption of aminoiia by potassium is hidrogen, or a new 

 species of inflammable aeriform suustance, the basis of ni- 

 trogen ? 



Experiments made to determine this point have proved, 

 as I expected, that the gas differs in no respect from that 

 given out during the solution of zinc in sulphuric acid; or 

 that produced during the action of potassium on water. By 

 slow combustion with oxigen, it generates pure water only, 

 and its weight, in a case in which it was vnixed with atmos- 

 pherical air, precisel , co responded with that of an equal 

 quantity of hid-ogen. 



Another query which I put is, has nitrogen a metallic ba- 

 sis, which alloys with the nietals employed in the experi- 

 ment ? 



This query I cannot answer in so distinct a manner; but 

 such results as I have been able to obtain are negative. 



* The account of the principal facts vesncctnig tjie action of pota^iium 

 on ammonia, in thi-> communication, were read before the Royal vSo- 

 ciety, February 2, 1809 The paper was ordered to be printed March 

 16, U09 At that time, havm^ stated to the Council that 1 had since 

 made some new L^yperiments on this matter, and on the subjects discussed 

 in the Bakerian Lecture for 1808, I received permission to add iherp to 

 the detail of the former observ.itions for publicatipn. 



Philos. Trans, for 1209, p. 4^0. 



J have 



