Mr. Davy’s Electrochemical Researches on 
33 s 
of silver very slightly moistened was electrified by iron wires ; 
an effervescence took place at both points of contact, and 
a minute quantity of a substance, possessing the whiteness of 
silver, formed at the negative point. When the iron wire to 
which this substance adhered was plunged into water con- 
taining a little alum in solution, gas was disengaged, which 
proved to be hydrogene ; and white clouds which were found 
to be sulphate of barytes, descended from the point of the 
wire. 
A mixture of barytes and red oxide of mercury, in the 
same proportions, was electrified in the same manner. A 
small mass of solid amalgam adhered to the negative wire, 
which evidently contained a substance, that produced barytes 
by exposure to air, with the absorption of oxygene ; and which 
occasioned the evolution of hydrogene from water, leaving 
pure mercury, and producing a solution of barytes. 
Mixtures of lime, strontites, magnesia, and red oxide of mer- 
cury, treated in the same manner, gave similar amalgams, from 
which the alkaline earths were regenerated by the action of air 
or water, with like phenomena ; but the quantities of metallic 
substances obtained were exceedingly minute; they appeared 
as mere superficial formations surrounding the point of the 
wire, nor did they increase after the first few minutes of 
electrization, even when the process was carried on for some 
hours. 
These experiments were made previous to April, 1808, at 
which time the batteries were so much injured by constant use, 
as no longer to form an efficient combination. The enquiry was 
suspended for a short time: but in May I was enabled to resume 
it. by employing a new and much more powerful combination. 
