some new Objects in Chemical Philosophy . zg 
it came in contact with the air, and muriate of potash was 
found dissolved in the mixture. 
It seemed evident from this fact, that in the action of 
tellurium negatively electrified upon potash, potassium was 
produced as in all other cases, and that it combined with the 
tellurium, and formed a peculiar alloy : and this opinion was 
farther confirmed, by the immediate action of potassium upon 
tellurium. When these metals were gently heated in a retort 
of green glass, filled with hydrogene gas, they combined with 
great energy, producing most vivid heat and light, and they 
composed an alloy of a dark copper hue, brittle, infusible at a 
heat below redness, and possessing a crystalline fracture. 
When the tellurium was in excess in this mixture, or even 
nearly equal to the potassium in quantity, no hydrogene was 
evolved by the action of the alloy upon water ; but the com- 
pound of telluretted hydrogene and potash was formed, which 
remained dissolved in the fluid, and which was easily decom- 
posed by an acid. 
The very intense affinity of potassium and tellurium for 
each other, induced me to conceive that the decomposition of 
potash, might be easily effected, by acting on the oxide of tel- 
lurium and potash at the same time, by heated charcoal ; and 
I soon proved that this was the case. About 100 grains of 
oxide of tellurium, and 20 of potash, were mixed with 12 
grains of well burnt charcoal in powder, and heated in a 
green glass retort ; before the retort became red there was 
a violent action, much carbonic acid was given off, a vivid 
light appeared in the retort, and there was found in it the 
alloy of tellurium and potassium. 
In attempting to reduce some oxide of tellurium by charcoal. 
