THE 



PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE. 



I . The Baker ian Lecture, on some new Phcenomena of Che- 

 mical Changes produced by Electricity , particularly the 

 Decomposition of the fixed Alkalis, and the Exhibition of 

 the new Substances ivhich constitute their Bases; and on 

 the general Nature of alkaline Bodies. By Humphry 

 Davy, Esq. Sec. R. S. M.R.I. A* 



I. Introduction. , 



In the Bakerian Lecture which I had the honour of present- 

 ing to the Royal Society last year, I described a number of 

 decompositions and chemical changes produced in substances 

 of known composition by electricity, and i ventured to con- 

 clude from the general principles on which the phaenomena 

 were capable of being explained, that the new methods of 

 investigation promised to lead to a more intimate knowledge 

 than had hitherto been obtained, concerning the true ele- 

 ments of bodies. , 



This conjecture, then sanctioned only by strong analo- 

 gies, I am now happy to be able to support by some con- 

 clusive facts. In the course of a laborious experimental ap- 

 plication of the powers of electro-chemical analysis, to 

 bodies which have appeared simple when examined by com- 

 mon chemical agents, or which at least have never been 

 decomposed, it has been my good fortune to obtain new and 

 singular results. 



Such of the series of experiments as are in a tolerably 

 mature state, and capable of being arranged in a connected 

 order, I shall detail in the following sections, particularly 



* From Philosopliical Transactions for 1808, Part I. 



A 2 those 



