some new Objects in Chemical Philosophy. 41 
was electrified in two gold cones in hydrogene gas, that no 
nitrous acid nor alkali was formed. It might be said, that in 
this case the presence of hydrogene dissolved in the water, 
would prevent nitrous acid from appearing ; I therefore, 
made two series of experiments, one in a jar filled with oxy- 
gene gas, and the other in an apparatus, in which glass, water, 
mercury, and wires of platina only, were present. 
I11 the first series 1000 double plates were used, the two 
cones were of platina, and contained about T j of a cubical 
inch each, and filaments of asbestus were employed, to con- 
nect them together. In these trials, when the batteries were 
in full action, the heat was so great, and the gasses were 
disengaged with so much rapidity, that more than half the 
water was lost in the course of a few minutes. By using a 
weaker charge, the process was carried on for some hours, 
and in some cases, for from two to three days. In no in- 
stance, in which slowly distilled water was employed, and 
in which the receiver was filled with pure oxygene, from 
oxyinuriate of potash, was any acid or alkali exhibited in the 
cones ; even when nitrogene was present, the indications of 
the production of acid and alkaline matter, were very feeble ; 
though if the asbestus was touched with unwashed hands, or 
the smallest particle of neutro saline matter introduced, there 
was an immediate separation of acid and alkali, at the points 
of contact of the asbestus with the platina, which could be 
made evident by the usual tests. 
In the second series of experiments, the oxygene and hy- 
drogene produced from the water, were collected under mer- 
cury, and the two portions of water communicated directly 
with each other. In several trials made in this way, with a 
mdcccx. G 
