Elements of Chemical Philosophy, pp. 144. 161.
It is remarkable that up to 1804 it was the received opinion that the metals were reduced by the nascent hydrogen. At that date the general opinion was reversed by Hisinger and Berzelius (Annales de Chimie, 1804, tom. li. p. 174,), who stated that the metals were evolved directly by the electricity: in which opinion it appears, from that time, Davy coincided (Philosophical Transactions, 1826, p. 388).
See also De la Rive, Bibliothèque Universelle, tom. xl. p. 205; or Quarterly Journal of Science, vol. xxvii. p, 407.
Nicholson's Quarterly Journal, vol. iv. pp. 280, 281.
Annales de Chimie, 1804, tom. li. p. 173.
I have not obtained fluorine: my expectations, amounting to conviction, passed away one by one when subjected to rigorous examination; some very singular results were obtained; and to one of these I refer at 1340.—Dec. 1838.
It is a very remarkable thing to see carbon and nitrogen in this case determined powerfully towards the positive surface of the voltaic battery; but it is perfectly in harmony with the theory of electro-chemical decomposition which I have advanced.
Annales de Chimie, tom, xxxv. p. 113.
This paragraph is subject to the corrective note now appended to paragraph 696.—Dec. 1838.
I mean here by voltaic electricity, merely electricity from a most abundant source, but having very small intensity.