some new Objects in Chemical Philosophy . lg 
admitted that it is from the ammonia ? but this, say they, is 
impossible ; for all the ammonia is reproduced. It must 
then come from the water which may be supposed to be in 
the ammonia, or from the metal itself. But the experiments 
of M. Berthollet, jun. prove that ammonia does not con- 
tain any sensible quantity of water. Therefore, say they, 
the hydrogene gas must be produced from the metal ; and 
as, when this gas is separated, the metal is transformed 
into potash, the metal appears to be nothing more than a 
combination of hydrogene, and that alkali. 
It is obvious, that even supposing the statement of these 
gentlemen correct, their conclusions may easily be contro- 
verted. They affirm that all the ammonia is reproduced*; but 
they do not obtain it without the addition of water. And of 
the oxygene which this would give to the potassium, and of 
the hydrogene which it might furnish, to reproduce the am- 
monia, they take no notice. 
I have shewn, by numerous experiments, many of which 
have been repeated before members of this Society, that the 
results obtained, by applying heat to the fusible substance, 
are very different from those stated by the ingenious French 
chemists, when the operations are conducted in a refined and 
accurate manner. 
In proportion as more precautions are taken to prevent 
moisture from being communicated to it, so in proportion, is 
less ammonia regenerated ; and I have seldom obtained as 
much as ~ of the quantity absorbed. And I have never pro- 
cured hydrogene and nitrogene, in the proportions in which 
they exist in ammonia ; but there has been always an excess 
of nitrogene. 
D 2 
