^2 PRETENDED NEW METAL J PALLADIUM, 



of its nature, and had formed the fubftance, before I could 



devifeany probable method of afcertaining its component parts. 



Admirable d'lf- In rcflecling upon the various modifications which fubftances 



pofal of pU- undergo when in union with each other, and on the variations 



tina and mercury i j • 



Vy which they produced in the laws of affinity by the intervention of new 



were prefented to bodies, I was induced to try whether by the affinity of platina 

 each other and • i r i ^i i i . 



united.— Green W"" ^^^^ metal eafily reduced, it might not happen that a 

 fulphatc of iron redudion of both would take place by green fulphate of iron, 

 folution of pla- although no fuch effeft were produced upon each metal when 

 tina} and alfo feparate. The raoft likely to fucceed, as being raoft eafily re- 

 mercury. No ^"^ed, after gold, platina, and filver, was mercury. I poured 

 precipitate took fome folution of green fulphate of iron into a fait of platin»a. 

 The compounds ^"^ ^^^^ '"^"^ ^ ^^-^ ^^ mercury ; no precipitation took place 

 were then n ix- I united the two liquors j and a precipitate exa611y referabling 

 ed. Platina an(| ^{,^1 which is formed by green fulphate of iron in palladium, 

 down together, was inftantly formed. I colle6ted the precipitate, and expofed 

 The compound jj to a fifong heat; and, after repeated trials, obtained a me- 

 was palladium, talh'c button, not to be diftinguiflied from palladium. 



It certainly is one of the moli extraordinary fads refpeding 

 alloys, that two metals, by their union with each other, thould 

 fo lofe the character i ft ic properties of each individually, that 

 neither of them can be immediately detefted by the ufual 

 Ijiethods. Nothing but an affinity of the moft powerful order 

 I could produce fuch effects. But, to place the metals under 



the moil favourable circumftances for that affinity to exert its 

 influence, and to promote their union, is not the refult of com-* 

 mon methods. Among a great number which I have tried, 

 many have failed, and none have been attended with uniform 

 Palladium by the fuccefs. I have, however, formed palladium by the immediate 



immediate union m^JQ^j of platina and mercury ; and, as whatever may place the 

 ot platina and '^ .. _ ^ ,,•',. ,. . . "^^ ' . 



mercury, apparent capricioulnels ot this combmation in a confpicuous 



point of view is not devoid of intereft, I (hall defcribe the 



means by which I have attempted to produce it, whether they 



•i failed, or were attended with fuccefs. 



SYNTHETICAL EXPERIMENTS. 



£jp. 1. It was not till after repeated trials of the mode 



juft mentioned, that I fucceeded in forming palladium. In 



many inftances, I obtained a button completely melted, of the 



. Specific gravity of 13, and fometimes more; not fo eafily fufed 



by ful|}hur as palladium; not foluble in nitric acid; and the 



abfolute 



