254 ^'^ '^"^ different Kinds of Cadmia, ^C. 



Irated folution of the volatile, not cauftic alcali, duririg 

 ■which an cff'ervefcence is obferved, and bv which the zino 

 exhibits traces of an acid : the produce is cryftals of a neu- 

 tral fait. 



Flowers of zinc, like zinc itfelf, are foluble in an acid; 

 hut with this difference, thai no eflervefccnce takes place. 

 Thcfe flowers are produced d'aring the fufion of zinc in an 

 open crucible, when the heat is increafed to above 370 degrees. 

 The metal then inflames with a whitifli-green flame of a 

 dazzlino- britrhtnefs, which fccms to diftufe over the faces of 

 thofe prcfent a death-like paltncls ; and the metal, by being 

 deprived of its inflammable matter, (united to oxygen,) is con- 

 verted into a tender calx, which, by the violence of the in- 

 flammation, is, on account of its lightnefs, carried upwards 

 like wool or a cobweb. Zinc, calcined in this manner, is 

 called the flowers of zinc, and alfo philojhphic laool, not to 

 mention other Angular appellations of the alchemifts. During 

 this operation zinc exhibits fome phenomena, fuch as the 

 fmell, the flame,- &c. which are fimilar to thofe that occur 

 durino- the combufl:ion of phofphorus ; and therefore people 

 were led to fuppofe that the phofphoric acid was contained 

 in zinc. By the above procefs the weight of this calx is in- 

 creafcd a tenth part, and, as fome have remarked, even more, 

 and at the fame time it becomes fixctl. When expofed on coals 

 to the blow-pipe, it becomes yellow, and on cooling refumes 

 its whitenefs, which is a proof that the flowers of zinc are 

 genuine. It can be fufed into a yellowifh-brown glafs, and, 

 by adding the inflammable matter, can be reduced in clofe 

 veiTels. 



In a clofe veflxl, expofed to a violent heat, zinc goes over 

 in a metallic form, and by thcfc means acquires the pro- 

 perty of creaking, when it breaks like tin. It can alfo be 

 brought to fuch a llatc that it may be drawn out into thin 

 plates, and be flatted between metal cylinders ; fome fpcci- 

 mens of which, by M. Sage of Paris, and M. Kratz of Berlin, 

 I have in my pofleflion. Zinc may be combined with the 

 5 greater 



