20 Dr.WolIaston on Metallic Titanium. 



Since the oxide thus examined agrees in its characteristic 

 properties with that of titanium procured from Anatase, I can- 

 not entertain a doubt as to the general nature of the substance 

 under consideration. I beheve it to be pure, for I find no 

 trace of any other substance combined with it, not even of 

 iron, altliough tlie crystals are found imbedded in an iron slag, 

 in the presence of metallic iron ; nor yet of silica, for which 

 the oxide has a strong afKnity. Neither is there any sulphur 

 present, as the salt which remains after oxidation of it by 

 nitre, contains no trace of sulphuric acid. 



That the cubes are in the metallic state, is nearly proved 

 by their lustre, by the effect of nitre upon them, and by the 

 failure of borax to act upon them, till they have been sub- 

 jected to the action of nitre. It may be further observed, 

 that, when the action of nitre is rapid, heat is evidently ge- 

 nerated, as by the combustion of other metals : but as I acted 

 upon them in their solid state, and did not pulverise them, I 

 did not witness what could properly be called detonation, as 

 described by Lampadius. 



The propei'ty which may be regarded as most decisive of 

 the metallic state of these cubes, is the power which I find 

 them to possess of perfectly conducting the most feeble elec- 

 tricity. 



If a slip of zinc and another of copper be placed in contact, 

 and immersed together in dilute sulphuric acid, bubbles of 

 gas are seen to rise from the surfaces of both the metals ; but, 

 if a piece of paper be interposed between them, then no gas 

 is given off by the copper. In a piece of paper, so placed be- 

 tween zinc and copper, I made a small hole, and after insert- 

 ing in it one of the cubes so as to be in contact with both the 

 metals, I had the satisfaction to find an electric communication 

 completely established by this interposition, for gas was now 

 given off from the surface of the copper. 



From the situation in which this metal is found, it evidently 

 has no affinity for iron in the metallic state, and it seems 

 equally indisposed to unite with every other metal that I have 

 tried. Though it is evidently impossible to measure with 

 precision the specific gravity of such specimens as I first re- 

 ceived for analysis, I was in hopes of trying whether one of the 

 largest of the cubes would sink or swim in melted tin, and for 

 that purpose endea»'oured to tin its surface; but I could not 

 succeed in uniting it with either tin or lead, with silver or 

 copper, and had no encouragement to prosecute further a 

 series of negative results, in search of metals for which it may 

 have an affinity. 



From the extreme infusibilty of these cubes, it seems pro- 

 bable 



