4,54 Mr. Davy’s new analytical Researches 
The iron tube contained, after the experiment, (as was as- 
certained by admitting hydrogene when it was cool), 2.7 of 
gas; which seemed of the same composition as the last por- 
tion. The adaptors must have contained .8 of a similar gas. 
The tube contained potash in its lowest part, and in its upper 
part potassium, which gave by its action upon water cubi- 
cal inch of hydrogene. 
As the largest quantity of hydrogene is always produced 
at that period of the process, in which the potassium must be 
conceived to be regenerated, and in which the gases being in 
the nascent state, its power of action upon them would be 
greatest, it occurred to me, that if nitrogene was decomposed 
in the operation, there would probably be a larger quantity of 
it destroyed by the distillation of the fusible substance, with a 
fresh quantity of potassium, than by the distillation of it in its 
Common state. On this idea I made several experiments ; the 
results did not differ much from each other, and were such 
as I had expected. I shall describe one process made with 
the same apparatus as that which I have just detailed. — Baro- 
meter was at 29.5, thermometer 70° Fahrenheit. 
6 grains of potassium were employed in an iron tray; 10 
cubical inches of ammonia were absorbed, a small globule of 
metal remained unconverted into the fusible substance. A 
fresh piece of potassium, weighing six grains, was introduced 
into the tray. 
The iron tube and the adaptors (having together a capacity 
equal to 4.3 cubical inches ) contained common air. 
The gas was collected in three portions, there was no ab- 
sorbable quantity of ammonia in either of them. 
The first portion, that produced before the tube became red. 
