ANALYSIS OF NEUTRAL SALTS. 



269 



this view of things I have concluded, that the degrees of ox- 

 idation, which appear to be multiplicaiioos by l|-, are in 

 fact only multiplications by 6 or 12 of a degree of oxidation 

 at a minimum, which is not known, because it cannot exist 

 in a separate (l^ate. 



I have lately read in the Philosophical Annals of Messrs. Supposition, 

 (iilbert a paper by Messrs. Thenard and Gay-Lussac, contains 00 

 which appears to prove, that the amalgam of ammonia is a oi^igen. 

 compound of mercury, alkali, and hidrogen. I cannot 

 however be of tlieir opinion: for, having demonstrated by 

 incontestible experiments the oxidation of the metalloids of 

 potash and soda, it would be highly inconsistent to suppose, 

 that ammonia alone (hould exhibit phenomena so similar ia 

 outward appearance to those 'of the fixed alkalis, earths, and 

 metallic oxides, while intrinsically they were of a totally ' 

 different nature. I am convinced, therefore, that the sub- 

 stance in ammonia, which forms an amalgam with mercury "^ 

 in the circuit of the pile, is a metal as indecomjjosable as 

 the others. But, supposing this, it naturally follows, thsit Hidrogen and 

 hidrogen and nitrogen mud be its oxides, as Mr. Daw had "'j'^°gf" c'jn- 



° o - sidered as two 



already supposed*. From the laws that 1 have endeavoured different ox- 

 to establish it would be easy to determine the quantity ^f j^fj^^J^^^^" 

 oxigen, that enters into each. If, as I have endeavoured to ammonia. 

 prove, ammonia is composed of 100 base to 89*4 of oxigen, 

 we shall find the quantity of oxigen, which v/ith 100 parts 

 of the base forms hidrogen, by dividing 89'4 by 2, 4, or 8. 

 The quantity of oxigen necessary to convert these 100 parts 

 of the base into nitrogen will be 89'4 multiplied by 1*5, 2, 

 4, &c. 



We shall have found the true proportions, when the Coippounds uf 

 auantity of hidrogen and nitrogen gasses produced from ammonium 

 • , r I X ■ 1 I I ^ • and oxigen. 



ammonia by means ot electrical discharges contain, ac- 

 cording to these calculations, the same quantity of oxigen 

 as ammonia. On dividing 89*4 by 8 we shall have the oxi- 

 gen necessar}' to form hidrogen with 100 parts of the base ; 

 and on multiplying 89'4 by 1'5 we shall have the quantity 

 required for the formation of nitrogen. . On reducing the 

 measures of gas to weights, we shall find, that 18*66 grs, of 



* Dr. Davj has since been inclined to relinquish this supposition. C< 



ammonia 



