In the following year Davy reported other chemical changes produced by electricity; he had succeeded in decomposing the fixed alkalis and disc overing the elements potassium and sodium. 李贝.西洋科学史.
Davy showed, however, that this element is a constituent of many alkalis. 李贝.西洋科学史.
No doubt what gave special zest to his study of the alkalis was the hope of overthrowing the doctrine of French chemists that oxygen was the e ssential element of every acid. 李贝.西洋科学史.