some new Objects in Chemical Philosophy. t^g 
the common earths, as those afforded by the electrochemicai 
processes on the alkalies, and the alkaline earths. 
I find that when iron wire ignited to whiteness, by the 
power of 3000 double plates, is negatively electrified and fused 
in contact with either silex, alumine or glucine, slightly 
moistened and placed in hydrogene gas ; the iron becomes 
brittle and whiter, and affords by solution in acids, an earth 
of the same kind, as that which has been employed in the 
experiment. 
I have passed potassium in vapour through each of these 
earths, heated to whiteness in a platina tube : the results 
were remarkable, and perhaps not unworthy of being fully 
detailed. 
When silex was employed, being in the proportion of 
about ten grains to four of potassium, no gas was evolved, 
except the common air of the tube mingled with a little inflam- 
mable gas, not more than might be referred to the moisture 
in the crust of alkali, formed upon the potassium. The potas- 
sium* was entirely destroyed ; and glass with excess of alkali, 
was formed in the lower part of the tube ; when this glass 
was powdered, it exhibited dark specks, having a dull metallic 
character not unlike that of the protoxide of iron. When the 
mixture was thrown into water, there was only a very slight 
effervescence ; but on the addition of muriatic acid to the 
* The results of this experiment, are opposed to the idea that potassium is a com- 
pound of hydrogene and potash or its basis, for if so, it might be expected that the 
hydrogene would be disengaged by the attraction of the alkali for silex. In my first 
experiments on this combination, I operated in an apparatus connected with water, 
and 1 found that the potassium produced as much hydrogene as if it had been made to 
act upon water ; in this case the metal had rapidly decomposed the vapour of the 
water, which must have been constantly supplied. 
I 2 
