22 Mr. Davy's Lecture on the Decomposition and Composition 
about 120° Fahrenheit, and it is a perfect fluid at about i 8 o e , 
so that it readily fuses under boiling naphtha. 
I have not yet been able to ascertain at what degree of heat 
it is volatile ; but it remains fixed in a state of ignition at the 
point of fusion of plate glass. 
The chemical phenomena produced by the basis of soda, are 
analogous to those produced by the basis of potash ; but with 
such characteristic differences as might be well expected. 
When the basis of soda is exposed to the atmosphere, it 
immediately tarnishes, and by degrees becomes covered with 
a white crust, which deliquesces much more slowly than the 
substance which forms on the basis of potash. It proves, on 
minute examination, to be pure soda. 
The basis of soda combines with oxygene slowly, and 
without luminous appearance at all common temperatures; 
and when heated, this combination becomes more rapid ; but 
no light is emitted till it has acquired a temperature nearly 
that of ignition. 
The flame that it produces in oxygene gas is white, and it 
sends forth bright sparks, occasioning a very beautiful effect ; 
in common air, it burns with light of the colour of that pro- 
duced during the combustion of charcoal, but much brighter. 
The basis of soda when heated in hydrogene, seemed to 
have no action upon it. When introduced into oxymuriatic 
acid gas, it burnt vividly with numerous scintillations of a 
bright red colour. Saline matter was formed in this combus- 
tion, which, as might have been expected, proved to be mu- 
riate of soda. 
Its operation upon water offers most satisfactory evidence 
of its nature. When thrown upon this fluid, it produces a 
