$66 On the Metal contained 



This powder is acid ; diflblves in water ; combines itfelf 

 with alkalies, from which it difengages the carbonic acid 

 and precipitates metallic folutions, exactly with the fame 

 phenomena as the acid of the natural red lead. It therefore 

 appears to me, beyond a doubt, that I have made here, in 

 Cver) r refpect, the particular acid, fuch as it exifts in the red 

 lead of which it forms one of the elements. 



My experiments, and the phenomena they gave rife to, as 

 mentioned in this memoir, authorife me to confider the fub- 

 flance which mineraliies the lead in the red lead of Siberia 

 not only as a metal, but as a particular metal, which, with 

 the general properties of the metals already known, pofleflcs 

 very diftinet charaeterifing marks that belong to no other. 

 What metallic fubftance, indeed, is there, which, converting 

 itfelf into an acid of a ruby red colour, has the property, in 

 that ftatc, of becoming green by the light, by caloric and 

 metallic fubftances, and of precipitating the nitrate of mer- 

 cury of a cinnabar red colour; lead of an orange yellow 

 colour ; nitrat of copper of a chctfnut red colour ; of diffolv- 

 ing gold conjointly with the muriatic acid; of precipitating 

 the tanning principle of a brown colour, and alkaline 

 prulliats green? Without doubt there is none. 



On account of thefe properties, and by the advice of 

 Cit. Fourcroy and Hauy, I propofe to call this metal ebrome, 

 which lignilies colour; becaufe its combinations are,, indeed, 

 all more or lefs coloured. 1 however mult confefs that this 

 appellation is not fuited to the metal itfelf, fince it has no 

 particular colour ; and that, befides, each metal has one 

 peculiar to itfelf, more or lefs different. I am not, there- 

 fore, attached to this name more than to any other that may 

 be given it, provided it. exprefs any of its molt ftriking and 

 jnoll chara&erirtic qualities. 



The brittlenefs and infufibility of this metal do not give u? 

 reafon to think that it can be applied to very man}' ufeful 

 purpofes; out we may ftill hope that, if it can be found 

 hereafter in larger quantities, the combinations of its acid 



9 with 



