43 Oy KinlOSEN AKD AMMONtA. 



tube nsed immediately after the whole internal surface had 

 been cleaned by the borer. Six grains of potassium were 

 used in a tray of iron, nearly thirteen cubical inches of 

 ammonia were absorbed, and about six of hidrogen pro- 

 duced. Thirteen cubical inches of gas were evolved in the 

 first operation; which consisted of nearly I cubical inch of 

 ammonia, 4 of nitrogen, and 8 of hiarogen. The portion 

 of gas given off in the second operation equalled 3'Q cubi- 

 cal inches; which consisted of 25 hidrogen, and 1"1 nitro- 

 gen. The potassium lost in the operation was sufficient to 

 generate 3-1 cubical inches of hidrogen. 

 Part •f the pot- As the iron in these experiments had been heated to in- 



av«ium united , , . i . i i ^ • 



%viih the iron, ^^f^'Se whiteness, and must have been very soft; it was not 



impossible, considering the recent experiments of Mr. 

 Hassenfratz *, that the loss of so lar<.5e a portion of potas- 

 sium might depend upon au intisnate union of that body 

 with iron, and its penetration into the substance of tire tube. 

 This idea is countenanced by another experiment of the 

 fame kind, in which the heat was raised to whiteness, and 

 the barrel cut into pieces when cool : on examining; the lower 

 part of it, 1 found in it a very thin film of potash ; but 

 which I conceive coula scarcely equal a grain in weight. 

 The pieces of the barrel were iutvoduced under a jar in- 

 verted in water ; at the end of two days nearly 2-3 cubical 

 inches of hidrogen were found to be generated. 

 Apparent loss Id the experiments detailed in page 53 of tiie last volume 



of i.itiopm ac. op tjjg Transactions t, a loss of nitrogen, and a prpduction 

 counlcJ for. _ '. ° _ . 



of hidrogen were perceived in a case, in which the residuum 



from a portion of fusible substance, which had been exposed 



to a low red heat, was distilled in a tube of platiua ; but in 



this case the residuum had been covered by naphtha, and it 



is possible, that auuuonia might have been regenerated by 



hidrogen from the naphtha, and absorbed by that fluid ; 



and a part of the hidrogen might likewise proceed from the 



decomposition of the naphtlia ; and in several experiments, 



in which I have burnt the entire fusible substance, 1 have 



found no loss of nitrogen. 



• Journal des Mines, April, 1808, p. 275. See Journal, vol. XXV, 

 p. 51. 



t Journal, vol. XXIII, p. 252, 253. 



Even 



