On a new Metal called Tellurium. 8l 



frrtall quantity of the metal diflblved, depofits itfelf under 

 the form of black flakes. Heat deftroya the folution : it 

 makes the red colour difappear, and difpofes the metal to fe- 

 parate in the ftate of a white oxyde. 



10. When, on the other hand, the concentrated fulphuric 

 acid is diluted with two or three parts of water, and a finall 

 quantity of the nitric acid has been added, a confiderable 

 quantity of the metal will then be diflblved. The folution 

 is tranfparent and colourlefs, and is not decompofed by the 

 mixture of a larger quantity of water. 



ii. All the pure alkalis precipitate from acid folutions of 

 this metal an oxyde, of a white colour, foluble in all acids : 

 by an excefs of alkali, the precipitate which is formed is en- 

 tirely re-diflblved. If carbonate be employed inftead of pure 

 alkali, the fame phenomenon takes place— with this differ- 

 ence, however, that, by excefs of the latter, the precipitate 

 formed is re-diflblved only in part. 



12. Exceedingly pure pruffiate of potafli produces no 

 precipitate in folutions of this metal. 



13. Alkaline fulphures mixed with acid folutions occa- 

 fion a brown or blackifli precipitate, according as the metal 

 is combined with more or lefs oxygen. It fometimes hap- 

 pens that the colour of the precipitate has a perfed refem- 

 blance to mineral kermes, or red fulphurated oxyde of an - 

 timony. 



When the fulphure of tellurium is expoied on burning 

 charcoal, the metal burns with a blue colour conjointly with 

 the fulphur. 



14. The infufion of gall-nuts, combined with the fame 

 folutions, gives birth to a flaky precipitate of an Ifabella 

 colour. 



15. Iron and zinc precipitate tellurium from its acid fo- 

 lutions in a metallic ftate, under the form of fmall black 

 Hakes, which refume their fplendour by fri&ion, and which, 

 on burning charcoal, melt into a metallic button. 



Vol. I. G 16. Tin 



