ON SULPHUR AND PHOSPHORUS. 14^ 



gen or nitrogen, from its tendency to be precipitated in the 

 form of alkaline solution, and likewise probably from its 

 having a stronger adherence to the gas; and the elastic fluid 

 generated, from the increase of volume will be capable of 

 coatainirg more aqueous vapour. 



It is not easy to determine, with perfect precision, the spe- 

 ciliic gravity of a gas, so light as hidrogen and even ammo- 

 nia; but the loss of weight, which appears to take place in 

 the electrical analysis of ammonia, cannot, I think, with 

 propriety, ^e referred entirely to this circumstance; whe- 

 ther the solution that I have ventured to give* be the true 

 one, I shall not, m the present state of the enquiry, attempt 

 to discuss. 



The question of ammonia being analogous to other sali- Hi^lngenand 

 fiable bases in its constitution, is determined by the pheno- "'troRen com- 

 mena presented by the amalgam from that alkali; andifmoniunu ^™' 

 the conversion of nitrogen into oxigen and hidrogen should 

 be established, it would appear that both hidrogen and ni- 

 trogen must be different combinations of ammonium with 

 oxigen, or with water. 



II. Farther Inquiries respecting Sulphur and Phosphorus. 



I have stated, in the last Bakerian Lecture, that hidrogen Sulphur and 

 is produced from sulphur and phosphorus in such quanti- plio-^phorus 

 ties, by Voltaic electricity, that it cannot well be considered gen'and oxt"^ 

 as an accidental ingredient in these bodiesf. I have like- g^"- 

 wise stated, that when potassium is made to act upon them, 

 the sulphurets and phosphurets evolve less hidrogen in the 

 form of compound inflammable gas by the action of an acid, 

 than the same quantity of potassium in an uncombined state, 

 and from this circumstance, 1 have ventured to infer, that 

 they may contain oxigen. 



On the idea, that sulphur and phosphorus are deprived of inference, 

 some of their oxigen by potassium, it would follow, that 

 when the compounds formed in this experiment are decom- 

 posed, these substances ought to be found in a new state; 



* Bakerlen Lecture, 1807, p. 40 ; or Journal, vol. X,^, p. 33©. 

 t See Journal, vol. XXIII, p. S21 and following. 



Vol. XXV.^Feb. 181Q. L deoxigen- 



