4 Mr. Davy's Lecture on the Decomposition and Composition 
was made negative, a vivid and constant light appeared at the 
opposite point : there was no effect of inflammation round 
it ; but aeriform globules, which inflamed in the atmosphere, 
rose through the potash. 
The platina, as might have been expected, was consider- 
ably acted upon ; and in the cases when it had been negative, 
in the highest degree. 
The alkali was apparently dry in this experiment ; and it 
seemed probable that the inflammable matter arose from its 
decomposition. The residual potash was unaltered ; it con- 
tained indeed a number of dark grey metallic particles, but 
these proved to be derived from the platina. 
I tried several experiments on the electrization of potash 
rendered fluid by heat, with the hopes of being able to collect 
the combustible matter, but without success ; and I only 
attained my object, by employing electricity as the common 
agent for fusion and decomposition. 
Though potash, perfectly dried by ignition, is a noncon- 
ductor, yet it is rendered a conductor, by a very slight 
addition of moisture, which does not perceptibly destroy its 
aggregation ; and in this state it readily fuses and decom- 
poses by strong electrical powers. 
A small piece of pure potash, which had been exposed for 
a few seconds to the atmosphere, so as to give conducting 
power to the surface, w r as placed upon an insulated disc of 
platina, connected with the negative side of the battery of 
the power of 250 of 6 and 4, in a state of intense activity ; 
and a platina wire, communicating with the positive side, was 
brought in contact with the upper surface of the alkali. The 
whole apparatus was in the open atmosphere. 
