some new Objects in Chemical Philosophy . 6 1 
potassium must have been employed in decomposing the 
earths in these experiments, or it had entered into combination 
with them, which is unlikely, and contrary to analogy, and 
opposed by some experiments which will be immediately 
related. 
Supposing the metals of the earths, to be produced in experi- 
ments of this kind, there was great reason to expect that they 
might be alloyed with the common metals, as well as with po- 
tassium. Mercury was the only substance which it was safe to 
try in the tube of platina. In all cases in which the potassium 
was in excess, I obtained amalgams by introducing mercury, 
whilst the tube was hot; but the alkaline metal gave the 
characters to the amalgam, and though in the case of glucine 
and alumine, a white matter separated during the action of 
very weak muriatic acid upon the amalgam, yet I could not 
be entirely satisfied that there was any of the metals of these 
earths in triple combination. 
Mixtures of the earths with potassium, intensely ignited in 
contact with iron filings, and covered with iron filings in a clay 
crucible, gave much more distinct results. Whether silex, 
alumine, or glucine was used, there was always a fused mass 
in the centre of the crucible ; and this mass had perfectly 
metallic characters. It was in all cases much whiter and 
harder than iron. In the instance in which silex was used, it 
broke under the hammer, and exhibited a crystaline texture. 
The alloys from alumine and glucine, were imperfectly mal- 
leable. Each afforded by solution in acids, evaporation, and 
treatment with re-agents oxide of iron, alkali, and notable 
quantities of the earth employed in the experiment. 
Though I could not procure decided evidences of the pro- 
