3. ‘When,’ he says, ‘the peculiar substance was brought in contact with a thin piece of phosphorus and pressed upon, there is a considerable action.’
4. ‘When it was brought in contact with sulphur in fusion in tubes filled with the vapour of naphtha, they combine with varied ignition.’
5. ‘The new substance produces some beautiful results with mercury.’
Then he describes the alloys.
‘The basis of potash, when thrown into the strong mineral acids, inflames and burns on the surface.’
Then he describes the effects with sulphuric acid, and nitrous acid.
‘The action of the basis of potash on fat and volatile oils, and on various bodies, is less violent than on any other class of compound substances containing oxygen, as might have been expected from the small quantity of this principle which they hold in combination.
‘The application of naphtha to its preservation I have already mentioned. On the colourless and perfectly transparent naphtha distilled from petroleum or from brown naphtha at a low heat, and defended from air, it has scarcely any action at common temperatures.’
Then he describes the further action on naphtha.