some nezv Objects in Chemical Philosophy. 35 
ignited, contains in the 100 parts 66.66 potash, and 33 34 
muriatic acid, a determination which differs very little from 
that of Bucholz. 
To determine the relation of the dryness of the potash, 
formed from potassium, to that which has been considered as 
freed from the whole or the greatest part of its water, in 
muriate of potash, I made several experiments. I first at- 
tempted to convert a eertain quantity of potassium into potash, 
upon the surface of liquid muriatic acid ; but in this case the 
heat was so intense, and hydrogene holding potassium in so- 
lution, was disengaged with so much rapidity, that there 
was a considerable loss of alkali ; yet even under these cir- 
cumstances, I obtained from 10 parts of potassium, 17.5 of 
dry muriate of potash. The most successful and the only 
mode which I employed, that can be entirely depended upon, 
was that of converting potassium into muriate of potash, in 
muriatic acid gas. I shall give the results of two experiments 
made in this manner : 5 grains of potassium inserted in a tray 
of platina, were made to act upon 19 cubical inches of muriatic 
acid gas, that had been exposed to muriate of lime ; by the 
application of a gentle heat, the potassium took fire, and burnt 
with a beautiful red light ; * and the whole mass appeared in 
igneous fusion ; a little muriate of potash in the state of a 
white powder, sublimed and collected in the top of the vessel 
in which the experiment was made. Nearly 14 cubical inches 
of muriatic acid gas were absorbed, and about 5 of hydrogene 
were produced. The increase of weight of the tray was about 
4.5 grains ; and it did not lose any weight by being ignited. 
* As a retort exhausted of common air was used, the small quantity of residual 
common air may have been connected with this vividness of combustion. 
Fa 
