ON THE ALKALINE METALLOIDS. 247 



line metalloids, which has always been refirardecl as an 



anomaly, may be supposed to arise from the presence of 



hidrogen. 



That these substances should retain metallic properties, No reason why 



supposing them to be metals combined with hidrogen, can- ^J'^'^og^" 



'' ' , . , • • jr. 1^1- V should destroy 



not be regarded as an objection. ii»tiammables in uniting nietallic pro- 



with metals do not altogether subvert, and frequently even perties, 

 do not materially modify the metallic properties. Steel, 

 the compound of iron and carbon, has all the qualities of a 

 inetal. Snlphuret of iron has the lustre, opacity, and hard- 

 ness of a metal; and tjulphuret of lead or galena has nearly 

 all the external properties of lead, and is heavier than seve- 

 ral of the metals. Phosphuret of copper has a high degree 

 of metallic lustre and hardness, and is susceptible of a fine 

 polish. With these facts, there is no difficulty in the sup- 

 position, that, from the combination of hidrogen with metals, 

 the general metallic properties may not undergo much 

 change. Besides, hidrogen may be itself a metal, and these if not itself a 

 may 'be alloys. "^^^^^• 



If these conclusions be just, it follows, that the metals Metallic bases 

 which are the bases of the alkalis are still unknown to us in ^^ the alkalis 

 . . . rr.1 I • /• 11 , ytt unknowrt 



their pute state. The same conclusion lollows perhaps to us. 



with regard to the metallic bases of the earths. Nor is it 



impossible, that some of the common metals may contain 



hidrogen. These conclusions, it must only be remarked, 



rest on grounds altogether different from the hypothesis 



which has been proposed, that hidrogen is the common No proofs, 



metallic principle, and have no connection with it. It is !^^^ hidrogen 



IS the general 

 a conjecture supported at present by no species of proof, metaliicprin- 



I do not suppose, that hidrogen is essential to the consti- ^'P^*- 



tution of metals ; but merely, that in common with other 



inflammables it is capable of combining with them ; and 



accorcting to this opinion there must exist in the alkaline 



roetals, metallic bases independent of hidrogen. 



The peculiarity which distinguishes the alkalis, regarding Solubility in 



them as metallic oxides, and which undoubtedly presents *f'*^ "^ ^^'^ 



, ,, . ^ 1 1 •!•. • alkali!, consi- 



an apparent anomaly — their great solubility in water, may ^ered as ox- 

 be owing perhaps to the attraction which their bases have to »*^"' 

 hidrogen; for the affinities of a substance to a compound, 

 to water for example, it is probable according to Berthollet*s 



views . 



