62 
Mr. Davy’s Experiments on 
duction of an amalgam, from the metals of the common 
earths, yet I succeeded perfectly by the same method of ope- 
rating, in making amalgams of the alkaline earths. 
By passing potassium through lime and magnesia, and then 
introducing mercury, I obtained solid amalgams, which con- 
sisted of potassium, the metal of the earth employed, and 
mercury. 
The amalgam from magnesia, was easily deprived of its 
potassium by the action of water. It then appeared as a solid 
white metallic mass, which by exposure to the air became 
covered with a dry white powder, and which when acted upon 
by weak muriatic acid, gave off hydrogene gas in considerable 
quantities, and produced a solution of magnesia. 
By operations performed in this manner, there is good rea- 
son to believe, it will be possible to procure quantities of the 
metals of the alkaline earths, sufficient for determining their 
nature and agencies, and the quantities of oxygene which they 
absorb ; and by the solution of the alloys containing the 
metals of the common earths, it seems probable, that the 
proportions of metallic matter in these bodies, may likewise 
be ascertained. 
On an hypothesis which I have before brought before the 
Society, namely, that the power of chemical attraction and 
electrical action, may be different exhibitions of the same 
property of matter, and that oxygene and inflammable bodies, 
are in relations of attraction which correspond to the function 
of being negative and positive respectively, it would follow 
that the attractions of acids for salifiable bases, would be in- 
versely, as the quantity of oxygene that they contain, and 
supposing the power of attraction to be measured by the 
