Ntitive Inn of Peru. ' 3' > 



- In order to examine this folution, I began by hepatic water, with ths Intintion of feein»- 

 whtther any one of the metals would be f>;paratcd which yield oxygen to falphuratsd hydro- 

 gen, but no turbidiiefs was prodLtccd. 



It remained, therefore, to be proved, whether it contained any one of t!ie four metals 

 which are not precipitated by hepatic water j and beginning with inanganefe, I prepared my 

 folution for the purpofe of afceriaini«g its prefence. 



I firft heated it with a little nitric acid, in order to carry the oxide of iron at the maximum 

 of its oxidation. I then precipitated it gradually by the carbonate of potalh, till the liquor 

 had loft its yellow colour. It v/as then filtered, and the precipitation completed. A depo- 

 fition of a light green colour was then made, which I fooa perceived to be the carbonate of 

 nickel. It was perfectly pure, and tinged borax of an hyacinth colour. This precipitate, 

 rediffolvcd in fulphuric acid, eafily gave rhomboidal cubic cryftals of confiderable fize. In 

 this manner I obtained about 50 grains, which indicates that this native Peruvian iron con- 

 tains a notable proportion of nickel. 



If the carbonate of nickel of this alloy, or of any other ore whatever, be perfe6^1y pure, as 

 I have fucceeded in obtaining it, lofes the carbonic acid, becomes black, then parts with it» 

 oxygen, and at length remains on the coal well reduced to the metallic ftate. It is unfufiblc, 

 at leaft with refpedt to my means, and very much refembles, in its colour and fpongy ap- 

 pearance, platina obtained by the blow-pipe from the ammoniacal muriate of platina. 



Nickel is perfeSly attracted by the magnet, and that quite independent of iron, as I have 

 proved by experiments on the nickel of Arragon, which I (hall hereafter publifh. 



We may, I think, conclude, that iron alloyed with nickel in a certain proportion communi- 

 cates a degree of whitenefs, diminiflies its difpofition to ruft, does not in any refpe£t injure 

 its dudlility, if even it do not add to it ; which defcrves to be proved by direct experiments ; 

 and laftly, that it would be premature to determine whether this precious compound be.the 

 work of art or of nature. 



On Mercury contained in Sea- Salt. 



The ftrongeft marine acid which is commonly found in the markets of France and Spairi 

 is ufually made with common fait and oil of vitriol. This «cid contains mercury in the 

 flate of corrofive fublimate: it arifes from the mercury which is naturally mixed in fearfalt. 

 This fait, which, at firft, very much aftonifhed the world, when Hilaire Rouelle announced 

 it in the Journal de Medicine^ is not mentioned in the Elements of Modern Chemiftry, be- 

 caufe no general inference could be drawn from afolitary fa<5l. Yet mercury is alfo found in 

 the fait which is confamed in Spain. I perceived it the firft time by the (pots of amalgam, 

 which was left in certain filver bafons in which I had purified a confiderable quantity ; and 

 in this manner alfo it was that Rouelle was led to obferve it. 



The marine acid which is made by Charlar at Paris contains mercury. To this lafl 



3 C 8 fubftancc 



