remaining after the Solution qfPlatina. 163 



tic acid, during its action on platina; and, principally from 

 the observations he is thence enabled to make, he infers, 

 that it contains a new metal, which, among other proper- 

 ties, has that of giving a deep red colour to the precipitates 

 of platina. 



M. Vauquclin attempted a more direct analysis of the 

 substance, and obtained from it the same metal as that dis- 

 covered by M. Descotils. But neither of these chemists 

 has observed, that it contains ali^o another metal^ different 

 from any hitherto known. 



The substance with which my experiments were made, 

 was obtained from platina \\'hich had been previouslv freed 

 from the sand and other impurities generally mixed with it; 

 so that it nuist have been contained in the substance of the 

 grains of platina. Though it has somewhat the appearance 

 of plumbago, it may easily be distinguished by its superior 

 weight. By weighing it in a phial with water, I found its 

 specific gravity almost 10-7. 



Before I describe the method of separating the two metals 

 of which it consists, it may be worth while to mention the 

 effects of it, when combined with different metals in an 

 entire state. It readily unites with lead ; but, even with 

 ten times its own weight, the compound has not, when 

 melted, much fluidity. Upon dissolving the lead in nitrous 

 acid, the black powder was obtained, with little apparent 

 alteration, not havhig been entirely broken down, but con- 

 sisting chiefly of the same scaly particles as at first. With 

 bismuth, zinc, and tin, the effects were nearly similar; but, 

 by fusion with copper in a very strong heat, a more per- 

 fect union was produced. On attempting to dissolve the 

 compound by nitro-niuriatic aeid, some of the powder was 

 taken up with the copper, forming a very dark solution. 



The undissolved portion consisted partly of the substance 

 in its original form of scales, and partly of a blacker powder, 

 the particles of which were to.) small to be visible, and 

 which had probably been completely combined with the 

 copper. This substance may be easily united, by fusion, with 

 silver or gold ; and it is particularly deserving of attention, 

 that it cannot be separated from theie metals by the usual 

 process of refining. It remains combined with either of 

 tKctn, after cupellation wiih lead; and with the gold, after 

 quartation with silver. The alloys retain considerable duc- 

 tility ; and the colour of that with gold is not materially 

 different from pure gold. 



1 iliall now proceed to describe the analysis of th;.- black 

 powder, and the properties of the two nutals which enter 



L 'J into 



