compared uiith thofe of Gluc'ine. 34.7 



tQ cheniifts, it is here ncedlefs to repeat what lias beea 

 already faid on that fubjeft. 



As the oihcr is interefiing on account of its novelty, we 

 fliall lay before our readers the obfervalions made on it by 

 the aiuhor. 



Tliough the mineral fubftance [ dlfcovered, fays he, con- 

 tains yttria, it could not be clafled in a fyftem of minera- 

 logy as a fpecies of earth, on account of the more abundant 

 mixture it contains of another fubftance equally remark- 

 able, and which muft increafe the clafs of metals, already- 

 very numerous. I found this fubftance in two folfils, ob- 

 tained from different places : in one of them, it was united 

 with iron and mangancfe ; and in fhe other, with the former 

 of thefe mela's and gadoline. 



This new metallic fubftance is diftinguiflied by its info- 

 lubility in all acids. The only re-agcnt which has any 

 aftion on it is cauftic fixed alkali. When fubjeilcd to heat 

 with this alkali, if the ma(s be then lixiviated, it jjarllv dif- 

 folves in the water, and fullers ilfelf to be precipitated from 

 that folulion, by means of an acid — but without the preci- 

 pitate being in any manner attacked, whatever be the quan- 

 tity of the acid employed. When feparated by the filter, 

 and dried, it remains under the fonn of an exceedinglv fine, 

 white powder, which does not change its colour even at 

 a red heat. If the remaining mafs be treated with acids, 

 the fame powder is obtained. Its fpecific gravity, after be- 

 ing brought to red heat, is 6*5 .0. It is fulible by the IjIqw- 

 pipe, by the addition of alkaline phofphate and borate of 

 focla, but communicates no colour to the flux. 



Expofed to a ftrong heat in a crucible, without any other 

 mixture than pounded charcoal, it is reduced to a button 

 moderately hard, havin^r fome metallic fplendour at its fur- 

 face, but a dull blackilli frailurc. Acids have no other 

 a£lion on this kind of regulus, but that of bringing it to the 

 ftate of white oxide in which it was before. I'he circum- 

 ftanccs of the reduction, as well as the fpecific gravity of 

 tliis fingular fubftance, fcem to aftign it a place among the 

 mclals, and I have fuflicicnt reafons for being pcrluaded 

 that it is none of thofe already known. Tht fubftances 

 with which it might be confounded arc the oxides of lui, 

 liuigflcn, and titanium, which arc folublc in cauftic alkalies, 

 and which, under fome circumftanccs, refift .icids. But 

 the oxide of tin is eafily dilfolvcd aiid reduced: tungften 

 iinnu'diatily difcovern itfelf by its foluhihty iu anunonia, 

 and by the blue colour which it communicates to |ihol- 



phatc 



