6 On the Decomposition and Composition 



activity ; and a platina wire, communicating with the po- 

 sitive side, was brought in contact with the upper surface of 

 the alkali. The whole apparatus was in the open atmosphere. 

 . Under these circumstances a vivid action was soon ob- 

 served to take place. The potash began to fuse at both its 

 points of electrization. There was a violent effervescence at 

 the upper surface ; at the lower, or negative surface, thece 

 was no liberation of elastic fluid; but small globules having 

 a high metallic lustre, and being precisely similar in visible 

 characters to quicksilver, appeared, some of which burnt 

 with explosion and bright flame, as soon as they were formed,, 

 and others remained, and were merely tarnished, and finally 

 covered by a white film which formed on their surfaces. 



These globules, numerous experiments soon showed to be 

 the substance I was in search of, and a peculiar inflammable 

 principle the basis of potash. I found that the platina was- 

 in no way connected with the result, except as the medium 

 for exhibiting the electrical powers of decomposition ; and a~ 

 substance of the same kind was produced when pieces o£ 

 copper, silver, gold, plumbago, or even charcoal were em- 

 ployed for completing the circuit. 



The phaenomenon was independent of the presence of air;, 

 I found that it took place when the alkali was in the vacuum 

 of an exhausted receiver. 



The substance was likewise produced from potash fused 

 by means of a lamp, in glass tubes confined by mercury, 

 and furnished with hermetically inserted platina wires by 

 which the electrical action was transmitted. But this ope- 

 ration could not be. carried on for any considerable time; 

 the glass was rapidly dissolved by the action of the alkali, 

 and this substance soon penetrated through the body of the 

 tube. 



Soda, when acted upon in the same manner as potash, 

 exhibited an analogous result; but the decomposition de- 

 manded greater intensity of action in the batteries, or the 

 alkali was required to be in much thinner and smaller pieces. 

 With the battery of 100 of six inches in full activity I ob- 

 tained good results from pieces of potash weighing from 40 

 to 70 grains^ and of a thickness which made the distance ot- 

 itic- 



