Chemistry. XX¥lil 
azotic gas and sulphuretted hydrogen. Such a mixture would 
not burn, and nothing was easier than to overlook the hydrogen 
in the analysis. 
Nis ALKALIFIABLE COMBUSTIBLES. 
This department has been recently enriched by the discovery 
of three new metals in Germany. Of these, the first, cadmium, 
was noticed in the historical sketch of last year. Since that 
period I have had an opportunity of examining the metal myse‘f, 
and of verifying the accuracy of the account of it which has been 
published by Stromeyer. The other two metals, vestium and 
wodanium, were unknown, or at least the knowledge of them 
had not reached me when [ drew up my historical sketch last 
summer. Vestium was discovered by Professor West, who has 
not yet succeeded in obtaining it in a state of purity; but if his 
experiments be accurate, it is undoubtedly a substance which 
possesses distinct properties from every metal known, and of 
course it is entitled to claim the rank of a new and peculiar 
metal. Wodanium has been announced by Lampadius as disco- 
vered in a mineral specimen found iu the cabinet of Von Trebra, 
and which had been obtained from Hungary. We must suspend 
our judgment respecting it till Lampadius has published his 
experiments, and till he has put it inthe power of some other skil- 
ful chemist to repeat them. 
1. Cadmium.--The discovery of this metal was made by 
Stromeyer. He was inspecting the apothecaries’ shops in the 
principality of Hildesheim, and found that the carbonate of zinc 
was substituted in that country for the oxide of zinc, the use of 
which had been ordered in the pharmacopeia. ‘This carbonate 
of zine was manufactured at Salzgitter. Upon inquiry, he learned 
from Mr. Jost, who managed that manutactory, that they had 
been obliged to substitute the carbonate for the oxide of zinc, 
because the oxide had a yellow colour, and was in consequence 
unsaleable. On examining this oxide, Stromeyer found that it 
contained a small proportion of the oxide of a new metal, which 
he separated and reduced, and to which he gave the name of 
cadmium. 
Cadmium is white, like platinum. Itis hard, has a hackly 
fracture, is malleable and ductile, and has a specific gravity of 
8°750 after fusion. It melts below a red heat, and is likewise 
very volatile, rising in the state of vapour at a temperature not 
much higher than the boiling point of mercury. 
It unites with only one proportion of oxygen, and forms an 
oxide of a greenish-yellow colour, fixed in the fire, and infusible 
at a white heat; but assuming a yellow, or even brown colour. 
This oxide may be formed by heating the metal in the open air, 
it catches fire, and sublimes in a yellow smoke, which is the 
oxide. 
It dissolves in nitric acid with the evolution of nitrous gas, and 
Yqu. XHI. ¢ 
