Mr. Davy’s Electrochemical Researches on 
and the complicated circumstances required for it, were such 
as to compel me to form other plans of operation. 
The strong attraction of potassium for oxygene, induced me 
to try whether this body might not detach the oxygene from 
the earths, in the same manner as charcoal decomposes the 
common metallic oxides. 
I heated potassium in contact with dry pure lime, barytes,, 
strontites, and magnesia, in tubes of plate giass ; but as I was 
obliged to use very small quantities, and as I could not raise 
the heat to ignition without fusing the glass, I obtained in this 
way no good results. The potassium appeared to act upon: 
the earths and on the glass, and dark brown substances were 
obtained, which evolved gas from water ; but no distinct 
metallic globules could be procured: from these circumstances, 
and other like circumstances, it seemed probable, that though 
potassium may partially de-oxygenate the earths, yet its 
affinity for oxygene, at least at the temperature which I em- 
ployed, is not sufficient to effect their decomposition. 
I made mixtures of dry potash in excess and dry barytes, 
lime, strontites, and magnesia, brought them into fusion, and 
acted upon them in the voltaic circuit in the same manner as 
that I employed for obtaining the metals of the alkalies. My 
hopes were, that the potassium, and the metals of the earths 
might be de-oxygenated at the same time, and enter into com- 
bination in alloy. 
In this way of operating, the results were more distinct than 
in the last : metallic substances appeared, less fusible than 
potassium, which burnt the instant after they had formed, and 
which by burning produced a mixture of potash and the earth 
employed ; I endeavoured to form them under naphtha, but 
