Prof. Doeberemer's recent Discovery , to Eudlometry. SI 5 
Exp. Mixt. Effects of a Platinum ball. 
3 vol. Muriatic Acid Gas, 
and 1 vol. 
Diminution of vol. to full extent, but 
sluggish action. 
1 
4 
Rapid and perfect action ; but in the 
intermediate proportions, the ball 
acted sluggishly, although perfectly. 
1 vol, of Ammoniacal Gas, 
and 3 
No action cold, but with considerable 
energy when warm. 
1 
5 
Acted sluggishly, but diminution w r as 
to the full extent. 
1 
9 
Rapid and perfect action. 
The explosive mixture was, as usual, formed of 2 volumes of 
hydrogen to 1 of oxygen. By the term Warm is meant, that 
the ball was put into the gas when just so hot as to be borne 
on the palm of the hand. The most active ball which I 
could make was employed in these experiments; when a weak- 
er ball was used, but one which nevertheless acted with energy 
on the pure explosive mixture, the counteracting effect of seve- 
ral gases, as carbonic oxide, olefiant and ammoniacal gas, was 
far greater than is stated in the preceding Table. 
This singular property of certain gases can by no means be 
attributed to their cooling agency, for platinum acts on an ex- 
plosive mixture of oxygen and hydrogen, even when quite cold ; 
nor will the mere circumstance of dilution account for the phe- 
nomena. Heat is always generated by the chemical changes 
produced, and this heat, in ordinary circumstances, greatly aug- 
ments the energy of the platinum ; but mere abstraction of ca- 
loric could obviously have no other effect than to cause a slower 
action. We must therefore admit the operation of some other 
cause, which is at present quite undetermined ; and, as the same 
gases which prevent the action of platinum, likewise control 
the influence of electricity, it seems rational to infer, that the 
same power operates to a certain extent in both cases. 
I have hitherto made no allusion to the principle by which 
platinum acts in causing the combination of oxygen and hydro- 
gen gases. The investigation is so obscure and difficult, that it 
can only be attempted with a prospect of success after the ac- 
cumulation of many facts ; nor do the experiments I have hi- 
therto made justify the decided adoption of any opinion. Prof 
2 
