7o 
Mr. Davy’s Experiments on 
seems to have the same tendency of combination with alkali ; 
and the alkaline metals, and the acidifiable bases, act with the 
greatest energy on each other. 
Second. The facility with which metallic substances are 
revived, in cases in which hydrogene is present. I placed 
two platina wires, positively and negatively electrified from 
500 double plates of 6 inches, in fused litharge ; there was 
an effervescence at the positive side, and a black matter 
separated at the negative side, but no lead was produced ; 
though when litharge moistened with water was employed, 
or a solution of lead, the metal rapidly formed; the difference 
of conducting power may be supposed to produce some diffe- 
rence of effect, yet the experiment is favourable to the idea, 
that the presence of hydrogene, is essential to the production 
of the metal. 
Third. Oxygene and hydrogene are bodies that in all cases 
seem to neutralize each other, and therefore in the products 
of combustion, it might be expected that the natural energies of 
the bases would be most distinctly displayed, which is the case ; 
and in oxymuriatic acid, the acid energy seems to be blunted 
by oxygene, and is restored by the addition of hydrogene. 
In the action of potassium and sodium upon ammonia, 
though the quantity of hydrogene evolved in my experiments 
is not exactly the same, as that produced by their action upon 
water ; yet it is probable that this is caused by the imperfection 
of the process ;* and supposing potassium and sodium to pro- 
* There seems to be always the same proportion between the quantity of ammonia 
which disappears, and the quantity of hydrogene evolved; i.e. whenever the metals of 
the alkalies act upon ammonia, (supposing this body to be composed of 3 hydrogene, 
and 1 of nitrogene, in volume, 2 of hydrogene and 1 of nitrogene remain in combi* 
