i 
the Suhoxide of Flatina, c^c. 155 
the two gaseous substances have been pure, and not applied in 
too. small quantities. 
By this highly remarkable phenomenon I was led to suppose 
that the same would take place in the powder of metallic platina, 
obtained by decomposing the muriate of platina and ammonia 
by the application of heat. I wrapped up a portion of the pow- 
der of platina into white blotting paper, and surrounded it with 
an atmosphere of hydrogen gas ; neither an absorption of the 
gas, nor any other change, was perceptible. I now added to 
these substances a portion of atmospheric air. In a very short 
time the substances began to act upon each other, and after ten 
minutes all the oxygen contained in the atmospheric air had 
combined itself with a portion of the hydrogen gas, and formed 
w'ater The result was the same, when, instead of atmospheric 
air, I introduced pure oxygen gas ; only it was obtained in a 
shorter space -of time, and the heat produced was sufficient to 
reduce the paper into cinders. 
I consider this phenomenon to be produced by an electrical 
chain, consisting of only two substances, one solid, viz. platina, 
the other expansible, viz. hydrogen ; the latter of them standing 
in the place of zinc in the Voltaic pile. 
Another remarkable phenomenon is, that oxide of carbon, if 
brought in contact with oxide of the sulphuret of platina, is re- 
duced to half its former volume, and changed, at the same time, 
into carbonic acid gas. During this process part of the carbon 
is absorbed. 
Jena, April 4>. 1823.— I have now succeeded in finding out 
a beautiful experiment for exhibiting the action of powder of 
platina upon hydrogen gas. Put the powder of platina ^ into a 
glass-funnel, shut at its lower extremity. Introduce from above 
a current of hydrogen gas through a capillary tube, the end of 
which must be distant from one to two inches from the platina, 
in order to have the hydrogen gas mixed with atmospheric air, 
before it comes into the contact with the metal. The dust of 
* The affinity of oxygen and hydi-ogen is so much heightened by their contact 
with platina dust, that a mixture of 99 parts of azote, and 1 part of oxygen, can 
in a few minutes be deprived of the latter, — an effect which cannot even be pro- 
duced by an electric spark. 
f M. Dobereiner has sinc-c found that 5 grains of platina is sufficient for this 
experiment. 
