some new Objects in Chemical Philosophy. 47 
Having stated the results of the investigation on the pro- 
duction of nitrous acid and of ammonia, in various processes of 
chemistry, I shall notice some attempts that I made to de- 
compound nitrogene, by agents which I conceived might act 
at the same time on oxygene, and on the basis of nitrogene. 
Potassium, as I have before stated, sublimes in nitrogene, 
without altering it, or being itself changed : but I thought it 
possible, that the case might be different, if this powerful 
agent were made to act upon nitrogene, assisted by the in- 
tense heat and decomposing energy of Voltaic electricity. 
I had an apparatus made, by which the Voltaic circuit 
could be completed in nitrogene gas, confined by mercury, 
by means of potassium and platina. The potassium, in the 
quantity of about two or three grains, was placed in a cup 
of platina, and by contact with a wire of platina, it could be 
fused and sublimed in the gas. The quantity of nitrogene, 
was usually about a cubical inch. The battery employed 
was always in full action for these experiments, and con- 
sisted of one thousand double plates. The phenomena were 
very brilliant; as soon as the contact with the potassium was 
made there was always a bright light, so intense as to be 
painful to the eye ; the platina became white hot ; the potas- 
sium rose in vapour; and by increasing the distance of the 
cup from the wire, the electricity passed through the vapour 
of the potassium, producing a most brilliant flame, of from 
half an inch to an inch and a quarter in length; and the 
vapour seemed to combine with the platina, which was thrown 
off in small globules in a state of fusion, producing an ap- 
pearance similar to that produced by the combustion of iron 
in oxygene gas. 
