from STRONTIAN, 25 



and dlfliuA genus. It belongs decidedly to the ancient order 

 of them called alkaline or abforbent, of which the moft abun- 

 dant fpecies, the calcareous earth, has been long known. To 

 my illuftrious mafter in. chemiftry, Dr Black, we are indebted 

 for eftablifliing the diftindl nature of inagnefia. Dr Gahn 

 and Mr Scheele have the merit of difcovering barytes. 



59. Considering it as a peculiar earth, I thought it neceC- 

 fary to give it a name : I have called it Strontites, from the 

 place where it was found ; a mode of derivation, in my opi- 

 nion, fully as proper as from any quality it may poffefs, which 

 is the prefent fafhion. My reafon is, that I think there is lefs 

 chance of difcovering two new earths in the fame fpot, than of 

 finding two poffefled of the fame property any where. The 

 denomination, however, is of little moment, provided it be 

 well underflood what it is intended to denote, and there be no 

 room for mi flake. 



60. To complete the hiftory of Strontites, it remains for me 

 to ftate what I have difcovered refpedling the order of its at- 

 tradions. I fhall begin with pointing out the order in which 

 the principal acids attrad it, and then I fhall fhow the place 

 due to its attradlion among thofe of other fubftances for acids. 



61. Sulphuric acid attradls Strontites with the greateft 

 force ; for when added to a folution of the nitrate, muriate, 

 tartrite, arfenicate, fuccinate, fluate, acetite and borate, it in- 

 ftantly caufes a difturbance of tranfparency, and a white pre- 

 cipitate falls to the bottom. When poured upon the oxalate, 

 which is fcarcely foluble in water, and permitted to remain for 

 fome hours upon it, this acid expels the oxalic, and takes its 

 place. I may here remark, that the precipitates formed by the 

 fulphuric acid do not defcend fo rapidly as the ponderous ful- 

 phate of barytes ; they have oftentimes in their fall more the 

 appearance of fulphate of lime. On this account, Strontites, 

 though a good one, is by no means fo delicate a teft of the pre- 

 fence of this acid as barytes, nor can it be employed altogether 



Vol. IV. D with 



