586 
to suppose, thatin it the basis of boracic 
acid exists in union with a small portion 
of oxygen... ° From the colour of the 
oxides,” says Mr. D. ‘* their solubility in 
alkalies, and from their general powers 
of combination, and from the conducting 
nature and lustre of the matter produced 
by the action of a small quantity of pot- 
assium upon the olive-coloured substance, 
and from a!] analogy, there is strong rea- 
son to consider the boracic basis as me- 
tallic in its nature, and I venture to pro- 
pose for it the nae of Beracium,” 
In experiments made upon the 
fluoric acid, the professor obtained an 
inflammable chocolate-coloured — sub- 
stance; but as he had acted only on 
very small quantities, he was not ‘able- 
to gain decided evidence that the inflam- 
mable part was the pure- basis of the 
fluoric acid; but with respect to the de-, 
composition of this body by potassium, 
and the existence of its basis, at least 
combined with a smaller proportion of 
oxygen in the solid preduct generated, 
_and the regeneration of the acid by the 
ignition of this product 1a oxygen gas, 
he has no doubt whatever. The decom- 
position of the fluoric acid by potassium, 
seems analogous to that of the acids of 
sulphur and phosphorus. in neither of 
these cases are the pure bases, or even 
the bases in their common form, evolved; 
but new compounds result, as in one 
_case sulphurets and sulphiter, and in the 
other phosphurets and_ phosphites, of 
potash are generated. 
Mr. Davy is less confident respecting 
the decom position of the muriatic acid. 
We shall mention one of his experiments 
on it. When a piece of potassium is 
introduced into the substance that distils 
over during the action of heated sulphur s 
upon oxymuriatic acid, it at first pro- 
duces a slight effervescence, and if the 
volume of the potassium considerably 
exceeds that of the liquid, it soon ex- 
plodes with a violent report, and a most 
mtense heht. He endeavoured to col- 
lect the result, whieh be was able to do 
with a quarter of a grain, 
small quantity “he could not ascertain 
that any gaseous matter was evolved ; 
but a solid” compound was formed of a 
very deep grey tut, which burnt, throw- 
ing ‘off bright scintillations when gently 
heated, which infamed when touched 
with water, and gave most brilliant 
sparks, like those thrown off by iron in 
~ oxygen gas. Its properties diflered from 
those of any compound of suipnur and 
potassium, but whether it contained the 
- 
Proceedings of Learned Socteties. 
water in actual’ combination with it, like 
‘that in muriatic acid gas, 2 and whic may 
be essential to. its elas s state; or e 
but in this _ 
[Julyt, 
muriatic basis, poe be still a matter of 
enquiry. 7 
Mr, Davy infers, that the experiments 
detailed in this elaborate paper, olfer 
some new views with respect to the na- 
ture of acidity. All the fiaid acids that 
contain- water, are excellent conductors 
of electricity. When he first examined 
muriatic acid in its combinations, free 
from moisture, he hoped he should be 
able to ‘decumpose them by electricity; 
but there was no action without contact 
of the wires, and the spark seemed to 
separate no one of their constituents,. 
but only to render them gaseous. The 
circumstance likewise applies to the bo- 
racic acid, which is a good conductor as 
long as it contains water; bat which, 
when freed from water, and made fluid 
by heat, is then a non-condactor. The 
alkalies and earthy compounds, and the 
oxides, as dry as can be obtained, are re 
non-conductors when solid, but if ren- 
dered fluid by heat, they. ‘become con- 
ductors. In mixing munatic acid gas 
with carbonic acid, or oxygen, or hydro- 
gen, the gases being in their common 
states, as to moisture, there was always a. 
cloudiness produced, which was owing to 
the attraction of their water to” form 
liquid muriatic acid. On» fluorie acid 
gas no such effect was et which 
might be supposed to shew that the’ hy- 
drogen, evolved by the action of 
sium upon fluorie ¢ gas, ‘is owin 
moisture may be in that state of huftsiats 
or solution, in which it exists in g gases i 1D 
general. 
“ The fagts advanced in. this Tecture,” 
says the author, “ afford “no new argu- 
ments in favour of an. idea to which re- 
ferred in my last communication—that o| of 
hydrogen being a common principle in ’ 
all inflammable bodies, and except in in 
stances which are still, ra invéstiga- 
tion, and concerning which 
conclusions can as yet be” 
generalization ‘of Lavoisier hap ly zp- 
no precise . 
drawn, the 
plies to the explanation of all'the new — 
phenomena. In proportion as progress 
is made towards the knowledge of pure 
combustible bases, so in proportiot 18 
the number of metallic substances in- 
creased; and ie is probable that sulphur 
and phosphorus, could they be perfectly 
deprived of oxygen, would belong to this 
class of bodies. Possibly the pure ele- 
mentary matter may be procured by 
distillation, at a high heat, from metallic 
alloys, 
~ 
‘yale 
