of thejixed Alkalis. 5 



3. strong red heat, and in a state of perfect fluidity. The 

 spoon was preserved in communication with the positive side 

 of the battery of the power of 100 of six inches, highly 

 charged ; and the connection from the negative side was 

 made bv a .platina wire. 



By this arrangement some brilliant phenomena were pro- 

 duced. The potash appeared a conductor in a high degree, 

 and as long as the communication was preserved, a most in- 

 tense light was exhibited at the negative wire, and a column 

 of flame, which seemed to be owing to the development of 

 combustible matter, arose from the point of contact. 



When the order was changed, so that the platina spoon 

 was made negative, a vivid and constant light appeared at 

 the opposite point ; there was no effect of inflammation 

 round it ; but aeriform globules, which inflamed in the at- 

 mosphere, rose through the potash. 



The platina, as might have been expected, was consider- 

 ably acted upon ; and in the cases when it had been nega- 

 tive in the highest degree. 



The alkali was apparently dry in this experiment ; and 

 it seemed probable that the inflammable matter arose from 

 its decomposition. The residual potash was unaltered ; it 

 contained indeed a number of dark-gray metallic particles, 

 but these proved to be derived from the platina. t 



I tried several experiments on the electrization of potash 

 rendered fluid by heat, with the hopes of being able to col- 

 lect the combustible matter, but without success ; and I 

 only attained my object, by employing electricity as the 

 common agent for fusion and decomposition. 



Though potash perfectly dried by ignition is a noncon- 

 ductor, yet it is rendered a conductor by a very slight ad- 

 dition of moisture, which does not perceptibly destroy its 

 aggregation ; and in this state it readily fuses and decom- 

 poses by strong electrical- powers. 



A small piece of pure potash, which had been exposed 

 for a few seconds to the atmosphere, so as to give conduct- 

 ing power to the surface, was placed upon an insulated disc 

 of platina, connected with the negative side of the battery 

 of the power of 250 of six and four, in a state of intense 



A 3 activity ; 



