366° J [May 1, 
PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES, 
= a 
ROYAL SOCIETY or LONDON. 
AVING in our last given an account 
4 of Mr. Davy’s discoveries with re- 
gard to potash, we shall proceed, as we 
proposed, to consider the properties and 
nature of the basisofSoda. The basisor 
metallic substance obtained by decompo- 
sition, 1s a solid at the common temper- 
ature. It is white, opaque, and if ex- 
amined under a film of naphtha, has the 
justre and general appearance of silver. 
it is exceedingly malieable, and is softer 
than any of the common metallic sub- 
stances. It is a good conductor of elec- 
tricity and heat, and small globules of it 
inflame by the voltaic electrical spark, 
and burn with bright explosions: its spe- 
cific gravity 1s something more than 93. 
Tt becomes (luid at about 180° of Fahren- 
heit, but the exact degree of heat at 
which it becomes volatile, has not been 
ascertained, 
The chemical phenomena produced by 
the basis of soda, are in many respects, 
analogous to those produced: by th¢ basis 
ef potash: when exposed to the atmo- 
sphere, it immediately tarnishes, and by 
degrees hecomes covered with a white 
crust, which deliquesces much more 
slowly than the substance that forms on 
the basis of potash, and which proves to 
be pure soda. The basis combines 
slowly with oxygen, and without lumi- 
nous appearance, at all common teim- 
peratures; and when heated this combi- 
nation becomes more rapid, but no light 
is emitted, tll it has acquired a tem- 
perature nearly that of ignition. In 
oxygen gas, it burns with a white light: 
in Oxymuriatic acid gas, it burns vividly 
with a bright red light; saline matter is 
formed, which proves to be muriate of 
soda. Whenthrown upon water, it pro- 
duces a violent effervescence, with a loud 
hissing noise; it combines with the 
oxygen of the water to form scda, which 
is dissolved, and its hydrogen is disen- 
gaged. 
‘The basis of soda acts upon alcohol 
and ether in the same manner with the 
basis of pot-ash. The water contained 
in them is decomposed, soda is rapidly 
formed, and hydrogen js disengaged. 
When. thrown upon. the streng acids, .it 
acts upon them with great energy, if the 
nitrous acid is employed, a vivid mflam- 
mation is produced; with muriatic and 
sulphuric acids, there is much heat gene- 
rated, but no light. 
\It. combines with sulphur in close ves- 
sels, filled with the vapour of naphtha, 
with great vividness, with light, heat, and 
afterwards with explosion from the vapori- 
zation.of a portion of sulphur, and the dis- 
engagement of sulphuretted hydrogen gas. 
The phospburet, has the appearance of 
lead, and ferms phosphate of soda, hy ex- 
posure to the air, or by combustion. 
The basis of soda in the quantity of 2 
part, renders mercury a fixed solid of tne 
eolour of silver, and the combination is 
attended with a considerable degree of 
heat. It makes an alloy with tin, with- 
- out changing its colour, and it acts upon 
iead and gold when heated. 
From some very accurate experiments, 
Mr.Davy has found that 100 parts of pot- 
ash, consist of 86.1 of the basis, and 
13.9 of oxygen: and in 100 parts of soda, 
there will be 80 parts of the basis, and 20 
of oxygen. ie 
To the question whether the bases of 
potash and soda should be called metals; 
Mr. Dayy says, that the greater number 
of philosophical persons answer in the 
afirmative. They agree with metals in 
opacity, lustre, malieability, conducting, 
powers as to heat and electricity, and in 
their qualities of chemical-combination ; 
their low specific gravity does not appear 
a sufficient reason for making thema new 
class; for aiong the metals themselves, 
there are remarkable differences in this 
respect, platina being nearly four times 
as heavy as tellurium ; and in the philoso- 
phical division of the classes of bodies, 
the analogy between the greater number 
of properties must always be the founda- 
tion of arrangement. Hence the bases 
of the.alkahes are denominated, Potassi- 
um, and Scdaum. 
‘In reference to his own discoveries, Mr. 
Davy observes, that, “ Inthe commen proe- 
cesses of nature, all the products of living 
beings may be easily conceived to be eli- 
cited from known combinations of matter. 
The compounds of iron, of the alkalies, 
and earths, with mineral acids, generally 
abound in soils. From the decomposition 
of basaltic, porphyritic, and granitic, 
rocks, there is a constant supply ofearthy, | 
alkaline, and ferruginous materials to the 
surface of the earth. In the sap of all 
plants that have been examined, certain 
neutrosaline compounds, containing pot-— 
ash, or soda, or iron, have. been found. 
From plants, they may be supplied te 
‘animals. And the chemical tendency of 
: -organizatien 
