25 
of the fixed Alkalies. 
it acts upon lead and gold when heated. I have not examined 
its habitudes with any other metals, but in its state of alloy, 
it is soon converted into soda by exposure to air, or by the 
action of water, which it decomposes with the evolution of 
hydrogene. 
The amalgam of mercury and the basis of soda, seems to 
form triple compounds with other metals. I have tried iron 
and platina, which I am inclined to believe remain in com- 
bination with the mercury, when it is deprived of the new 
substance by exposure to air. 
The amalgam of the basis of soda and mercury likewise 
combines with sulphur and forms a triple compound of a dark 
grey colour. 
VI. On the Proportions of the peculiar Bases and Oxygene in 
Potash and Soda. 
The facility of combustion of the bases of the alkalies, and 
the readiness with which they decomposed water, offered 
means fully adequate for determining the proportions of their 
ponderable constituent parts. 
I shall mention the general methods of the experiments, 
and the results obtained by the different series, which approach 
as near to each other as can be expected in operations per- 
formed on such small quantities of materials. 
For the process in oxygene gas, I employed glass tubes 
containing small trays made of thin leaves of silver or other 
noble metals, on which the substance to be burnt, after being 
accurately weighed or compared with a globule of mercury, 
MDCCCVIII. E 
