6‘6 Sir H. Davy's Account of some new Experiments 
100 parts of solution of ammonia of specific gravity 9162 re- 
quired for its saturation 52 grains of diluted fluoric acid of 
such a strength, that an equal portion produced exactly 32 
grains of fluate of potassa. According to this experiment fluate 
of ammonia must consist of 9.7 of fluorine to 22 of ammonia 
and, if it be conceived that liquid fluoric acid consists of two 
proportions of hydrogen to one of fluorine, the true compo- 
sition of fluate of ammonia will be one proportion of fluoric « 
acid 35, and two proportions of ammonia , 
The volatility of fluate of ammonia rendered it impossible 
to ascertain by evaporation the real quantity of solid salt 
formed, though the heat was never raised so high as that of 
boiling water, yet only 12.7 grains of solid fluate of ammonia 
could be procured. 
Two hundred cubical inches of ammonia, which weigh 36 
grains, condense one hundred cubical inches of silicated fluoric 
gas, weighing, under the same circumstances, 1 10.7, and if it 
be supposed that silicated fluate of ammonia contains one pro- 
portion of silicated fluoric acid and one of ammonia, then the 
number representing silicated fluoric gas will be 98.4, and it 
may be conceived to consist of two proportions of fluorine 66, 
and one of the siliceous basis 32.4. 
According to the experiments of John Davy, 100 parts of 
silicated fluoric acid afford 61.4 of silica when decomposed 
by aqueous solution of ammonia, hence silica may be con- 
ceived to consist of 32.4 of basis and 29 of oxygen, and this 
is very near two proportions of oxygen. 
* See Elements of Chemical Philosophy, page 268. 
f That is, if ammonia be regarded as composed of one proportion of azote 26, and 
six of hydrogen. 
